Crash copter owner to be questioned

KHON KAEN: Police will summon the owner of an ill-fated helicopter that crashed and killed four people on Wednesday morning.

Khon Kaen police chief Pol Maj Gen Promnatthakhet Hamkhampai said that investigators have found the helicopter belonged to Heliluck Aviation Co, which provides helicopter services and the company’s owner will be summoned to give relevant information and documents.

The company must explain how it will give compensation payments to the victims’ families, the officer said, adding that an investigation is being conducted in line with international aviation regulations.

A probe is being conducted by a panel of aviation experts from the Transport Ministry, known as the Aircraft Accident Investigation Committee of Thailand (AAIC).

The helicopter, an AS355NP, crashed into a paddy field and burst into flames in tambon Wang Saeng, Chonnabot district, on Wednesday morning.

TV Channel 7 had hired the helicopter for a news report and TV programme. It was heading to Khon Kaen to pick up the reporters when it went down.

There were four people listed on the flight manifest. Initially, only three bodies were found at the scene. However, rescuers retrieved the badly crushed body of the last victim, who was burnt beyond recognition, from the wreckage, bringing the total number of the crash victims to four.

Investigators have been collecting evidence from the crash site.

The four names on the list were: Two Channel 7 photographers, Samnao Noisakul and Ronnakit Phetnin; pilot Seksan Wanna; and Pol Col Sinsamut Sinphettha, the assistant pilot. The two pilots worked for Heliluck Aviation.