Bangkok, Thailand — A tragic accident occurred on Thursday afternoon when a small passenger plane, on a domestic flight in Thailand, crashed shortly after taking off from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. According to the country’s Civil Aviation Authority, all nine individuals on board are believed to have perished.
The plane went down in a mangrove swamp in Chachoengsao province, approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the airport. Thai media reports confirmed that the aircraft had seven passengers and two pilots aboard, with no survivors found at the crash site.
Chachoengsao’s Public Relations Department/AP
Rescue teams, who combed the swampy and challenging terrain, encountered only shattered body parts, further emphasizing the severity of the crash, as stated by a spokesperson for the provincial government.
While the identities of those on board have yet to be officially released, reports indicate that the victims included five Chinese tourists from Hong Kong, two Thai female crew members, and the Thai pilot and co-pilot.
The ill-fated flight was operated by the Thai Flying Service Company using a Cessna Caravan C208B turboprop aircraft. It departed from Bangkok at 2:46 p.m. local time. However, the plane lost contact with air traffic control just 11 minutes later, when it was about 35 kilometers (22 miles) southeast of the airport.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, with aviation authorities expected to examine all possible factors contributing to the incident.
