Three die in helicopter crash in Khon Kaen

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Nereus
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Three die in helicopter crash in Khon Kaen

Post by Nereus »

Well, they have been having a good run lately. But this one is not military, it is owned by Heliluck Aviation Co and was under contract to TV Channel 7. RIP.
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Three die in helicopter crash in Khon Kaen

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/genera ... -khon-kaen

KHON KAEN: A helicopter crashed into a paddy field in Chonnabot district on Wednesday morning, killing three people.

The helicopter, AS355 NS, came down around 9.30am in tambon Wang Saeng and was engulfed in flames when emergency responders arrived at the scene, Pol Col Keeratikorn Amornpatpakhin, chief of Chonnabot police station.
Firemen extinguished the blaze, but by then the helicopter was a fire-gutted wreck.

Khon Kaen airport director Atthaya Lapmark said the three people in the helicopter were killed. The cause of the crash was already being investigated.

The ill-fated helicopter had taken off from a flight training field in Saraburi and was heading to Khon Kaen when air traffic control lost contact with it over Chonnabot district, the airport director said.

Dark clouds covered the sky over the area and it was raining. Airport authorities suspected poor visibility contributed to the crash. (why oh why does this happen so often?)
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Nereus
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Re: Helicopter crash

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Death toll in helicopter crash raised to four

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/genera ... recent_box

KHON KAEN: Four people were killed when their helicopter crashed onto a dry paddy field in Chonnabot district on Wednesday morning, not three as earlier believed.

The amended death toll was released by Khon Kaen airport director Atthaya Lapmark on Wednesday afternoon. Mr Atthaya said earlier that all three peole on board had died. Checks had since revealed there were four people on board, he said.

The helicopter, AS355NP, was en route from Saraburi to Khon Kaen airport, where it was due to arrive at 9am, he said. Air traffic control lost contact with it over Chonnabot district.

It crashed in tambon Wang Saeng and was engulfed in flames when emergency responders arrived at the scene, Pol Col Keeratikorn Amornpatpakhin, chief of Chonnabot police station, said.

Firemen extinguished the blaze, but by then the helicopter was a destroyed wreck.
“The Department of Airports is sending a team to investigate the crash. It is due to arrive at Khon Kaen airport about 2pm today,’’ the airport director said.

Dark clouds covered the sky over the area and it was raining when the helicopter went down. Airport authorities suspected poor visibility contributed to the crash.
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Re: Three die in helicopter crash in Khon Kaen

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Unbelievable! Now they don't know how many were on the helicopter! By the look of what is left of it, it must of hit the ground at one hell of a rate of speed.
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Death toll confusion over helicopter crash in Khon Kaen

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/genera ... recent_box

KHON KAEN: There was confusion over the number of people killed when a helicopter crashed in Khon Kaen on Wednesday morning, with four people listed on the flight manifest, but only three bodies found at the scene.

The list gave four names: pilot Seksan Wanna; assistant pilot, Pol Col Sinsamut Sinphettha; and two TV Channel 7 photographers, Samnao Noisakul and Ronnakit Phetnin.

Rescuers said three burned bodies were found at the scene.
Khon Kaen airport director Atthaya Lapmark later amended this, saying there were four people listed on the flight and it appeared none survived.

Khon Kaen governor Somsak Jangtrakul said later on Wednesday afternoon an investigation was underway to find out whether the fourth person was alive or dead.

He confirmed that three bodies had been found at the crash site, even though the list showed there should be four people.
The three bodies would be sent to Chonnabot Hospital for fingerprinting and identification before being sent to the Srinagarind Hospital forensic institute for autopsy, the governor said.

The helicopter picked up some TV Channel 7 crew members from a location in Saraburi and stopped at Saraburi airport for refuelling. It then took off again, heading for Khon Kaen to pick up more TV Channel 7 staff, but crashed in Chonnabot district.

TV Channel 7 reporter Natchapong Muhammad said he was at Khon Kaen airport waiting for the other team members to arrive, as they were scheduled to report on a storm in Roi Et.

“Now, there is no official confirmation who are among the dead. Authorities are awaiting forensic results. We are looking for the remaining person," he said.

The helicopter, AS355NP, was due to arrive at 9am, the airport director said earlier. Air traffic control lost contact with it over Chonnabot district.
It crashed in tambon Wang Saeng and was engulfed in flames when emergency responders arrived at the scene, Pol Col Keeratikorn Amornpatpakhin, chief of Chonnabot police station, said.

Firemen extinguished the blaze, but by then the helicopter was a destroyed wreck.
“The Department of Airports is sending a team to investigate the crash. It is due to arrive at Khon Kaen airport about 2pm today,’’ the airport director said.

Dark clouds covered the sky over the area and it was raining when the helicopter went down. Airport authorities suspected poor visibility contributed to the crash.

Meanwhile, SFS Aviation Co issued a statement denying early news reports one of its helicopters was involved in the crash. The firm said the reports were inaccurate.
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Re: Three die in helicopter crash in Khon Kaen

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PLEASE, do not fly on ANY helicopters in Thailand! This one they keep referring to as AS355NP is a twin engine Airbus Helicopters (formerly Eurocopter Group). In fact, it should be reffered to by its registration number HS-PNG. One of the worlds safest helicopters, even in single engine form. Also reported as having 2 pilots on board. If it had a flight recorder it must be the only one in the world in this type of machine, as it is not mandatory.
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Helicopter crash investigation hampered by persistent rain

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/genera ... stent-rain

KHON KAEN: The fourth victim of Wednesday's helicopter crash was found in the blackened wreckage overnight and forensic specialists were trying to fit names to the crushed and burned bodies on Thursday.

Persistent rain at the scene in Chonnabot district has hampered the efforts of aviation experts trying to determine the cause of the crash. As of mid-afternoon they had not found the flight recorder.

Rescuers retrieved the badly crushed body of the last victim, who was burned beyond recognition, from the wreckage, on Wednesday night, bringing the total number of the crash victims to four.

Police also collected other evidence at the crash site, including valuables of the victims, shirts of TV crew members and electronic equipment.

The helicopter, AS355NP, crashed onto a paddy field and burst into flames in tambon Wang Saeng, Chonnabot district, on Wednesday morning.

There were four people listed on the flight manifest. Initially, only three bodies were found at the scene, resulting in some confusion until the fourth was retrieved.

The four names on the list were: pilot Seksan Wanna; assistant pilot, Pol Col Sinsamut Sinphettha; and two TV Channel 7 photographers, Samnao Noisakul and Ronnakit Phetnin.

Khon Kaen governor Somsak Jangtrakul said on Thursday the four bodies were taken to Srinagarin Hospital's forensic institute for identification verification. Relatives of the victims already arrived in Khon Kaen, he told a media briefing at Khon Kaen airport.

“The probe into the crash is underway. The four victims were on board helicopter AS355NP operated by Heliluck Aviation Co. The bodies were sent from Chonnabot Hospital to Srinagarin Hospital for identification and DNA testing,’’ said Mr Somsak.

Dr Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, dean of Khon Kaen University’s faculty of medicine, confirmed the bodies arrived at Srinagarin Hospiatal late on Wednesday night. The scattered remains had been collected by matching bits of clothing and identity cards and wrapped in four bags by rescue workers and Chonnabot Hospital staff

"Although relatives confirmed the bodies were those of their loved ones, the medical team cannot let them take the remains for funeral rites until the identity verification process is completed. The results are needed for legal proceedings, particularly for compensation payments by insurance firms to the victims' families. DNA results are needed to avoid legal problems in the future,’’ Dr Charnchai said.

The process would take 2-4 weeks, he added.

The probe team working at the crash site on Thursday was hindered by persistent rain and strong winds as they combed through the wreckage.

The front of the ill-fated helicopter was in a crater it had made in the ground about 1.5 metres deep and filled with water from overnight rain that had to be pumped out, Khon Kaen airport director Atthaya Lapmark said on returning from the site.

So far, the flight recorder or black box had not been found, he said. The work was proceeding slowly because of the unfavorable weather and muddy ground.

With investigators still unsure what else they might find amongst the wreckage, the area has been cordoned off to the public.
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Last edited by Nereus on Thu Jul 19, 2018 4:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Three die in helicopter crash in Khon Kaen

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Do we need a dedicated thread to Thai heli crashes just like the bus and minivan one? :shock:
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Re: Three die in helicopter crash in Khon Kaen

Post by Thailightzone »

buksida wrote:Do we need a dedicated thread to Thai heli crashes just like the bus and minivan one? :shock:
There is a bus thread? Damned that must be busy.
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