Seven tourists and two pilots are feared dead after a private plane crashed into a swamp in Thailand, local media reported.
The passengers were flying from Bangkok airport to a southwestern coastal region known for its beaches.
The group was travelling in a Cessna 208B Grand-Caravan and was heading to Trat province, about 170 miles away, when the plane crashed.
It burst into flames in a mangrove forest in Chachoengsao province shortly before 3:30 p.m. local time, with locals reporting hearing an explosion.
Authorities are currently searching for the missing pilot and passengers. Photos from the scene show wreckage, clothing and belongings scattered on the ground.
Images from the scene show wreckage of the plane in a swampy area of the forest.
Clothes and belongings are seen scattered on the ground after the plane crash.
Resident Ang Trasawat, 69, said he heard a loud explosion before rushing to the crash site, where he 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 see the place. There were pieces of the plane scattered everywhere, even 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 used by Thai Flying Service Co Ltd. It was reportedly being used for a private charter flight when the accident occurred.
Records show it departed from Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok at 2.46pm on August 22, bound for Koh Mai Si Airport in Trat, on flight , before losing signal at 2.57pm.
Resident Ang Trasawat, 69, said he heard a loud explosion before rushing to the crash site, where he 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 see the place. There were pieces of the plane scattered everywhere, even near a house.”
Parts of the wreck are seen in swampy waters in the forest of 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 used by Thai Flying Service Co Ltd. It was reportedly being used for a private charter flight when the accident occurred.
Records show it departed from Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok at 2.46pm on August 22, bound for Koh Mai Si Airport in Trat, on flight TFT209, before losing signal at 2.57pm.
Police said they have sealed off the area as they search for survivors of the crash.
Police Lt. Warayut Chanwichumet, deputy chief of investigation at Bangpakong district station, said they received a report of the accident and sent police and paramedics to the scene.
Rescue teams and volunteers are scouring the area in hopes of finding survivors.
At the scene they found the remains of the plane scattered in the mud over an area of approximately 328 feet (100 meters).
They were unable to locate any pilot or passenger, but they did discover the luggage of those on board.
The police officer added: ‘We have blocked off the area to prevent further accidents due to oil leak from the plane.
“We have inspected the wreckage and have not yet found the pilot or passengers. We will expand the search radius and excavate the ground beneath the wreckage to locate the pilot and passengers.
“We will also inspect the flight information to determine the owner of the aircraft and the number of passengers.”
Police said they have sealed off the area as they search for survivors of the crash.
The file image shows a Cessna 208B Grand-Caravan, the type of aircraft the group was reportedly travelling in.
Police Lt. Warayut Chanwichumet, deputy chief of investigation at Bangpakong district station, said they received a report of the accident and sent police and paramedics to the scene.
At the scene they found the remains of the plane scattered in the mud over an area of approximately 328 feet (100 meters).
They were unable to locate any pilot or passenger, but they did discover the luggage of those on board.
The police officer added: ‘We have blocked off the area to prevent further accidents due to oil leak from the plane.
“We have inspected the wreckage and have not yet found the pilot or passengers. We will expand the search radius and excavate the ground beneath the wreckage to locate the pilot and passengers.
“We will also inspect the flight information to determine the owner of the aircraft and the number of passengers.”
