By Kabiru Abdulrauf
A routine parachute training exercise turned tragic on Friday when a small police aircraft crashed into the sea off Thailand’s Prachuap Khiri Khan province, claiming the lives of five Thai police officers.
The crash occurred around 8:00 a.m. local time, just 100 meters from the shore in Cha-am, a coastal resort town southwest of Bangkok. According to police spokesperson Archayon Kraithong, five of the six officers on board were killed instantly, while the lone survivor remains hospitalized with serious injuries.
Footage of the incident, which has circulated widely on social media, shows the aircraft spiraling uncontrollably before plummeting into the water. Bystanders were seen wading through chest-deep waves in an attempt to assist at the crash site.
Authorities are now analyzing data from the aircraft’s black box to determine the cause of the crash. Initial findings have not yet been released, but police chief Kitrat Phanphet has pledged a comprehensive investigation.
“This is a heartbreaking loss,” Phanphet said in a statement. “The Royal Thai Police express their deepest condolences to the brave officers who lost their lives in service to their country.”
The incident has cast a shadow over Thailand’s law enforcement training programs, raising questions about flight safety protocols and the condition of training aircraft. As the investigation unfolds, the nation mourns the loss of the five officers who perished in the line of duty.
