Seven tourists and two pilots are feared dead after a private plane crashed into a swamp in Thailand, local media reports.
ABOUT THE FLIGHT
The passengers had been flying from Bangkok airport to a southwestern coastal region known for its beaches.
The group had been travelling in a Cessna 208B Grand-Caravan and were heading to the Trat province some 170 miles away when the aircraft hurtled to the ground.
It burst into flames in a mangrove forest in Chachoengsao province shortly before 3.30pm local time, with locals saying they heard an explosion.
Authorities are currently searching for the missing pilot and passengers. Pictures from the scene show pieces of plane wreckage and clothes and belongings strewn across the ground.
WHAT WAS THE CRASH LIKE?
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 see the scene. Pieces of the plane had been scattered around, including near a house.’
Preecha Boontham, 56, added: ‘I heard the plane accelerating very loudly. 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 crash happened.
Records show it departed from Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok at 2.46pm on August 22, bound for Koh Mai Si Airport in Trat, with flight, before losing signal at 2.57pm.
