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Published on November 14, 2007

Divers late yesterday found the body of one missing crew member at the bottom of Bang Lang Dam, which is around 40 metres deep. The body will be retrieved today.

Crew members reported missing were pilot Pol Lt-Colonel Prasuan Musikul, co-pilot Pol Captain Phichet Kham-ai and Pol Sgt-Major Lertchai Suwanno.

Media reports and the Nation News Agency have confirmed that three crew members survived the crash and three were missing.

Police spokesman General Pongsaphat Pongcharoen said the crash was not caused by an attack by insurgents in the strife-torn region. He said an initial finding was that the tail rotor of the Bell 212 became hooked in tree branches during a low-altitude flight over the dam.

The helicopter was flying to Yala to pick up assistant national police chief Lt-General Adul Saengsingkaew and take him back to Bangkok. It plunged into the water at around 6.30pm on Monday.

The Nation

YALA