Two police pilots told friend of possible helicopter crash night before tragedy
A friend of the two Royal Thai Police pilots killed in a Bell 212 helicopter crash revealed that the pilots had discussed the high risk of a crash the night before the fatal incident.
Police Captain Sithit Amthanom, 37, posted on Facebook that the two pilots had told him on Friday (May 23) night the Bell 212 helicopter was not fit for flying. The aircraft, part of the Royal Thai Police's Aviation Division since 1973, has served for nearly five decades but is now considered aged and unsafe.
The tragic crash in Prachuap Khiri Khan on Saturday claimed the lives of three officers: Police Major Pratheung Chulert (pilot), Police Captain Songphol Boonchai (pilot), and Police Lieutenant Thinnakrit Suwannoi (mechanic).
Sithit said he met the two pilots the night before the crash, and they admitted to risking their lives every time they flew the Bell 212 helicopter due to its poor condition—not due to pilot error.
'Less than 24 hours after they confided in me, both friends were gone because of the danger they always feared,' Sithit wrote.
He expressed anger over the situation and praised their courage for flying despite the risks.
Sithit criticised the RTP's policy of having new pilots train on old helicopters while experienced pilots flew newer aircraft. 'There is a joke among us that old pilots use new aircraft and new pilots use old ones,' he said.
He also shared a message from Pratheung confirming the helicopter was old and not ready to fly, adding that police pilots allowed to use new helicopters did not have to endure the same risks. - The Nation/ANN
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
4 days ago
- The Sun
Portugal boosts navy patrols after rare migrant boat arrival
LISBON: Portugal's navy has intensified patrols along its southern coast after a migrant boat carrying 38 people landed near Vila do Bispo. The wooden vessel arrived in the Algarve region late Friday evening, according to the GNR police unit. Officials confirmed the migrants showed signs of dehydration and hypothermia upon arrival. Ten individuals required hospitalisation for medical observation, though their nationalities remain undisclosed. The group included seven minors and six women, but the boat's exact departure point was not revealed. Public broadcaster RTP reported the vessel had sailed from Morocco, spending six days at sea before reaching Portugal. Migrant arrivals in Portugal remain uncommon compared to Mediterranean routes used by thousands heading to southern Europe. The navy has urged residents to report suspicious vessels following the incident. - AFP
Borneo Post
28-07-2025
- Borneo Post
Gunman kills five in 'mass shooting' in Thai capital: police
Rescue workers and police officers examine the scene next to a covered body after a shooting at Or Tor Kor Market in Bangkok on July 28, 2025. – AFP photo BANGKOK (July 28): A gunman killed five security guards and wounded one other person in a mass shooting at a popular fresh food market in Thailand's capital on Monday, police said. The suspect opened fire with a 'gun-type weapon' at the Or Tor Kor Market in Bangkok's Bang Sue district at 12.31 pm (0531 GMT), the Royal Thai Police said, before taking his own life. 'Police are investigating the motive. So far it's a mass shooting,' Bang Sue deputy police chief Worapat Sukthai told AFP. He said police were working to identify the dead perpertrator, as well as probing 'for any possible link' to the current border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia. National police chief Kitrat Phanphet said an urgent investigation had been ordered, with officers combing CCTV footage of the attack. Or Tor Kor Market is a short distance from Chatuchak market which is a major tourist destination in Bangkok and throngs with visitors every weekend. Mass shootings are not uncommon in Thailand, where firearms can be obtained relatively easily due to lax gun control enforcement. – AFP crime mass shooting Thailand
The Star
21-07-2025
- The Star
Thai police uncover two Chinese-led online fraud rings in latest blitz against scammers
BANGKOK (The Nation Thailand/ANN): Chiang Mai police have arrested three suspects linked to two Chinese-led online fraud rings, uncovering a network that defrauded the public through fake investment schemes and money mule operations. Police General Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, Inspector General of the Royal Thai Police and Director of the Police Cyber Taskforce (PCT), revealed on July 21 that intensified crackdowns on cybercrime are underway across the country. Following a coordination meeting held on July 18, which brought together representatives from multiple agencies to review recent operations and issue renewed directives for continued enforcement, officials reported several notable developments in cybercrime cases. One of the most notable cases, reported by Provincial Police Region 5, involved the raid of a luxury pool villa in Chiang Mai's Hang Dong district, where a Chinese-led gang had allegedly set up an online gambling and investment scam operation targeting elderly Chinese nationals. Online gambling scam linked to over 500 million baht in losses Acting on intelligence reports, police raided the villa located in the Ban Waen subdistrict and found 14 Chinese nationals, consisting of 11 men and three women, as well as three Myanmar nationals - a man and two women - inside. The suspects were caught actively operating fraudulent platforms aimed at luring elderly Chinese citizens aged 60 to 80 into bogus online investments. Officers seized 10 desktop computers and 26 mobile phones used in the scam. According to investigators, the gang used Thailand as a base to run a call centre scheme that encouraged victims to invest via mobile applications. Once funds were transferred, contact with the victims was immediately severed. This group had recently relocated their operation from San Sai district to Hang Dong, reportedly under the direction of a Chinese national acting as the operation's ringleader. The move followed a police crackdown on another Chinese-run scam operation at a luxury housing estate in San Sai on June 16. Visa loopholes and university involvement Forensic analysis of seized equipment revealed that the suspects had entered Thailand on tourist or student visas. In many cases, those on student visas could not even name the institutions they were allegedly attending. A subsequent investigation found that at least five universities in Chiang Mai—both monastic and private—had issued student visas to over 13,000 Chinese nationals. Authorities believe some of these individuals exploited the visa system to reside in Thailand and carry out fraud against fellow Chinese citizens. Preliminary estimates suggest over 100,000 Chinese victims were defrauded, with losses totalling more than 100 million yuan (S$17.9 million). All suspects are now in custody and face charges, including public fraud and involvement in transnational criminal networks. Authorities will coordinate with the Chinese consulate for further verification and intend to expand the investigation to identify and dismantle the wider network. Thai police bust gang linked to call centre scam, seizing millions Chiang Mai Provincial Police have arrested three suspects, including one Thai woman and two Chinese men, in connection with fraud and computer crimes. The arrests were made following a warrant issued by the Chiang Mai Provincial Court for their involvement in deceiving the public and falsifying data through computer systems, which could potentially harm the public. The arrests stemmed from a report received by the Mae Ping Police Station about a quarrel between a Chinese man and a Thai woman in front of an ATM at a popular shopping mall in central Chiang Mai. Upon intervention, officers found scattered cash totalling over 2.6 million baht (S$103,090), prompting them to bring the suspects to the station for further investigation. Investigations revealed that the suspects were part of a larger scam operation, led by a Chinese mastermind who tricked both Chinese and Thai nationals into investing in fraudulent schemes. The two Chinese men arrested were responsible for managing a group of money mules who would withdraw funds and deliver them to the boss. The Thai woman, who had taken on her first task as a money mule to pay off her debts, was caught during the operation. Police are expanding their investigation to uncover the full scope of the criminal network involved. Gen Thatchai emphasised that with the rapid advancement of technology, online crime has become a significant threat to individuals and society. In particular, the issue of 'money mule' accounts has emerged as a key method for criminals to launder money and defraud the public. Addressing these issues requires a comprehensive strategy and cooperation from all sectors. 'The key to combating online crime is intercepting it at the source,' Gen Thatchai said. 'This includes addressing the use of companies as channels for money laundering and the opening of money mule accounts, both by Thai citizens and foreigners, which are exploited in criminal activities.' The police have stepped up measures to control financial transactions, particularly those involving illegal cross-border withdrawals and transfers. Additionally, Gen Thatchai highlighted the importance of preventing Thai nationals from illegally crossing borders to work in foreign countries, which often leads them to become victims or accomplices in call centre scams. 'We must have clear processes in place to repatriate Thai nationals involved in such activities to ensure efficient and humane handling of these cases,' Gen Thatchai concluded. 'This will help expedite legal actions and ensure the process is conducted in accordance with human rights principles.' -- THE NATION THAILAND/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
