This is the chilling moment a police mission ends in disaster as a plane plunges nose-first into the sea off the coast of Thailand – killing all six officers on board.
The crash occurred yards from a luxury hotel on Friday in the Trang Province – a largely rural area in the south of the country – while the small aircraft was on a routine mission and lost contact with air traffic control shortly before it was scheduled to land. Footage shows the Viking DHC-6 Twin Otter plunging into the water in Hua Hin, around 125 miles south of the capital, Bangkok. Another image shows the plane caught mid-air in a steep, uncontrolled dive, moments before hurtling into the water. Thai authorities confirmed there no survivors as they scoured the wreckage of the aircraft, belonging to the Royal Thai Police Aviation Division.
Emergency services and rescue crews were immediately dispatched after the aircract lost signal, but by the time they arrived, the plane had already crashed – and was left half submerged in the sea, with shattered panels poking up from the wreckage site. All six officers on board the aircraft were killed, Thai authorities said.
Guests at the Baby Grand Hua Hin Hotel watched on in horror as the plane slammed into the water shortly after 8am local time. Several locals, along with passing fishermen, raced over to the wreckage. Five people were pulled from the water by divers, but they were pronounced dead at the scene. One other person was reportedly seriously injured and remained missing this morning.
The registration of the plane, N964VK, has pointed to a plane operated by the Royal Thai Police. Police and aviation chiefs were earlier scouring the scene to estalish the cause of the crash. Officials said that the plane went down during a test flight for parachute practice.
The two pilots killed were identified as Police Colonel Prathan Khiaokham and Police Lieutenant Colonel Panthep Maniwachirangkul. Another pilot, Police Captain Jaturong Watthanaphaisan, sustained severe injuries and was taken to Hua Hin Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
An engineer, Police Lieutenant Tanawat Mekprasertsuk, and a mechanic, Police Lance Corporal Jirawat Maksakha, were also killed in the incident. Another mechanic, Police Sergeant Major Prawat Phonhongsa, was injured and remained missing this morning.
National Police Chief Police General Kitrat Phanphet said: “The families of the victims will be closely supported and funeral arrangements will be made for them. I have ordered a detailed investigation into the cause of the crash.”
While the exact cause of the crash remains under investigation, early indications suggest a technical malfunction or weather-related issue may have played a role. Witnesses in the area reported hearing a loud explosion and seeing smoke in the sky moments before the aircraft went down.
The Royal Thai Police and Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) have launched a full scale investigation, with a specialised recovery team now working to retrieve the black box and flight data recorders.
Thailand’s Prime Minister offered his condolences to the families of the fallen officers, calling the tragedy a “heartbreaking loss for the entire nation.”
Flags at police stations across the country are being flown at half-mast in their memory.
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