Six police officers lost their lives when their aircraft crashed into the sea during a parachute training test flight near a well-known beach destination in Thailand on Friday, April 25, 2025.
The small aircraft was seen descending rapidly into the water around 8:00 a.m. local time (1:00 GMT) in the Cha-am district, a coastal resort about 80 miles southwest of Bangkok.
According to Royal Thai Police spokesperson Archayon Kraithong, five officers died at the crash site. The sixth, the pilot, was taken to a hospital where he later died from his injuries.
The aircraft, identified as a Viking DHC-6 Twin Otter, crashed near Hua Hin Airport in Prachuab Kiri Khan province. Images from the scene showed the wreckage floating approximately 330 feet from the shore, with the aircraft’s body split in two upon impact. Reportedly, the no.2 (right-hand) engine failed, causing the aircraft to spin nose-down into the sea.
Observers at the Baby Grand Hua Hin Hotel witnessed the aircraft’s plunge into the Gulf of Thailand. A witness recounted, “I was shocked and ran onto the beach. There was no sign of life coming from the plane.”
Local media noted that bystanders were seen entering the sea to reach the crash site, while online footage captured the moment the plane hit the water.
The Royal Thai Police confirmed via a Facebook statement that all six fatalities were police officers.
The deceased officers were identified as the pilot, Police Colonel Prathan Kheawkham; two other pilots, Police Lieutenant Colonel Parntep Maneewachirakun and Police Sub-Lieutenant Chaturong Wattanapraisarn; an engineer, Police Sub-Lieutenant Thanawat Mekprasertsuk; and two mechanics, Police Sergeant Major Prawat Phonhongsa and Police Lance Corporal Jirawat Maksakha.
Police Sub-Lieutenant Chaturong Wattanapraisarn initially survived the crash but died at the hospital after undergoing surgery.
Witness reports indicated a sound resembling an engine explosion before the aircraft went down. The plane had just departed from Bo Fai Airport on a test flight when the incident took place.
Police Chief Kitrat Phanphet surveyed the accident site with other officials and said preliminary investigations suggested the plane was headed toward residential areas. Somehow, the pilots diverted it toward the sea, potentially averting further casualties.
Phanphet stated that the victims’ families would receive substantial support during this challenging time. The Royal Thai Police Commissioner-General has instructed that full assistance be provided to the families and that appropriate funeral rites be organized.
Authorities have initiated an investigation to ascertain the cause of the crash. Archayon Kraithong mentioned that officials are collecting evidence, including data from the aircraft’s black box flight recorder.
Rescue teams were dispatched swiftly to the crash site, but their efforts to save the officers were largely unsuccessful due to the impact’s severity.
Recovery operations continued throughout Friday, with authorities retrieving the wreckage from the sea. Later photographs showed the plane wreckage partly submerged in shallow waters.
The aircraft was conducting a test flight specifically for parachute training preparations when the accident occurred.
This incident follows another recent air accident in the region, where a medical helicopter carrying a patient crashed into the sea in Japan. In that case, three individuals died, while three others, including the pilot, a helicopter mechanic, and a nurse, were rescued by the coast guard after being found clinging to inflatable lifesavers.
The Commissioner-General has also called for a swift and thorough investigation to reveal all facts concerning the Thailand crash and to implement measures that might prevent similar occurrences.
