A plane carrying nine people crashed near Bangkok, Thailand, on Thursday, with an extensive search operation ongoing, CNN reports.
The Cessna Caravan C208B turboprop aircraft, which took off from Bangkok’s main international airport at 2:46 p.m. local time, was en route to an airport in Trat province when it lost contact some ten minutes into the flight. Authorities believe that the two Thai pilots, along with five Chinese nationals and two Thai passengers aboard, likely perished in the incident, although investigations are ongoing.
Residents in the Bang Pakong district of Chachoengsao reported witnessing the plane crash, describing a loud explosion upon impact that damaged nearby homes.
“I was sitting in front of my house. The plane flew over with a loud engine sound. Just seconds after that, it crashed with a loud crash,” recounted one local resident in a video shared by the provincial government office.
Soneva Kiri, a luxury resort on Koh Kood island, confirmed that it employed the two Thai passengers on board. Guests typically arrive at the nearby airport via private plane before taking a speedboat to the resort. The resort has stated that it is fully cooperating with authorities in the investigation.
Recovery efforts have faced significant challenges. Parts of the aircraft were discovered scattered in the mud, including nearly 70 body parts, which have since been sent to a police hospital for identification. The search was initially delayed for several hours due to logistical difficulties, compounded by the crash site being located in a mangrove forest where the ground was waterlogged from overflow from a nearby river.
Videos and photos released by the provincial office showed large crowds of rescue workers and emergency personnel at the crash site, equipped with headlamps as night fell, sifting through the wreckage, which included suitcases and open bags. Heavy machinery was employed to manage the difficult terrain, with some workers wading through knee-deep water to retrieve debris.
The river’s high tide further complicated search efforts, requiring teams to pump out water and build embankments to mitigate flooding. The search was paused at 2 a.m. and was set to resume Friday morning.
Authorities are expected to analyze the aircraft debris to determine the cause of the crash. Notably, the plane did not have a black box and had been in direct communication with air traffic control prior to losing contact. The investigation into the tragic incident is ongoing.
