Seven tourists and two pilots may have been injured after a private jet crashed into a swamp in Thailand, local media reported.
The passengers are believed to be a European family and were flying from Bangkok airport to a southwestern coastal area known for its beaches.
The group was travelling in a twin-propeller Cessna 208B Grand Caravan and was en route to Trat province, some 270 kilometres away, when the plane crashed with a bang.
The fire broke out shortly before 3:30 p.m. local time in a mangrove forest in Chachoengsao province. Locals said they heard an explosion.
Authorities are currently searching for the missing pilot and passengers. Photos from the scene show pieces of plane wreckage and clothing and belongings strewn across the ground.
Photos from the crime scene show pieces of a plane wreckage in a swampy part of the forest
Clothes and belongings are strewn across the ground after the plane crash
Resident Ang Trasawat, 69, said he heard a loud explosion before running to the crash site, where they found scattered pieces of the plane.
He said: ‘There were explosions in the air. Before the plane fell, the sound was loud, then the plane fell to the ground. After that I ran to check the scene. There were pieces of the plane scattered, also near a house.’
Preecha Boontham, 56, added: ‘I heard the plane accelerating very hard. There was no smoke coming out. Then the plane descended towards the fields and landed in the mangrove forest. It was a small white plane with two wings. After the crash there was a loud explosion.’
The aircraft HS-SKR was last registered to Siam General Aviation before being operated by Thai Flying Service Co Ltd. It was reportedly being used for a private charter flight when the crash occurred.
Records show that the plane took off from Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok at 2:46 p.m. on August 22 and flew to Koh Mai Si Airport in Trat. At 2:57 p.m., the plane lost signal.
Resident Ang Trasawat, 69, said he heard a loud explosion before running to the crash site, where they found scattered pieces of the plane.
He said: ‘There were explosions in the air. Before the plane fell, the sound was loud, then the plane fell to the ground. After that I ran to check the scene. There were pieces of the plane scattered, also near a house.’
Parts of the wreckage can be seen in swampy waters in the forest in Chachoengsao province
Preecha Boontham, 56, added: ‘I heard the plane accelerating very hard. There was no smoke coming out. Then the plane descended towards the fields and landed in the mangrove forest. It was a small white plane with two wings. After the crash there was a loud explosion.’
The aircraft HS-SKR was last registered to Siam General Aviation before being operated by Thai Flying Service Co Ltd. It was reportedly being used for a private charter flight when the crash occurred.
Records show that the plane took off from Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok at 2:46 p.m. on August 22, bound for Koh Mai Si Airport in Trat, with flight TFT209. At 2:57 p.m., the plane lost signal.
Police have cordoned off the area as they search for survivors of the crash.
Lieutenant Warayut Chanwichumet, deputy chief of investigation at Bangpakong District Police Station, said they received a report of the accident and sent police and ambulance personnel to the scene.
Rescue workers and volunteers are searching the area in the hope of finding survivors
On site they found the wreckage of the plane, scattered in the mud over an area of about 100 meters.
They could not find the pilot or passengers, but did discover luggage belonging to the people on board.
The police officer added: “We have cordoned off the area to prevent further accidents due to an oil leak from the plane.
“We have inspected the wreckage and have not yet found the pilot or passengers. We will increase the search radius and excavate the ground under the wreckage to find the pilot and passengers.
“We will also inspect the flight data to determine the owner of the aircraft and the number of passengers.”
Police have cordoned off the area as they search for survivors of the crash.
Lieutenant Warayut Chanwichumet, deputy chief of investigation at Bangpakong District Police Station, said they received a report of the accident and sent police and ambulance personnel to the scene.
On site they found the wreckage of the plane, scattered in the mud over an area of about 100 meters.
They could not find the pilot or passengers, but did discover luggage belonging to the people on board.
The police officer added: “We have cordoned off the area to prevent further accidents due to an oil leak from the plane.
“We have inspected the wreckage and have not yet found the pilot or passengers. We will increase the search radius and excavate the ground under the wreckage to find the pilot and passengers.
“We will also inspect the flight data to determine the owner of the aircraft and the number of passengers.”
