Sahat's daughter: He has proved to me that goodness exists in this world
Her Majesty the Queen graciously presided over the royally-sponsored bathing rite for the five helicopter-crash victims at Wat Phrasri Mahathat in Bangkok last night. HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn accompanied her mother.
"I am deeply saddened," Her Majesty was quoted as saying.
Killed in the accident on Tuesday were Natural Resources and Environment Ministry permanent secretary Saksit Tridej, the ministry's inspector-general Kowit Panyarong, Royal Household Bureau adviser Sahat Boonyawiwat, pilot |Major Jenwit Arunsawat, and mechanic Sergeant Withoon Thienngoen.
All the victims died on duty when their helicopter crashed on the way to inspect a royally initiated project in Nan.
Their Majesties the King and the Queen are to host the funeral for seven days. 
At the bathing rite for the deceased yesterday, Her Majesty warmly talked to the families of the victims. She was also seen gently patting the heads of Jenwit's and Withoon's daughters.
"All worked for the country," HM the Queen was quoted as saying.
Sahat's wife Samlee Boonyawiwat said Her Majesty also recalled how Sahat had worked really hard and had gone on many helicopter rides before.
"The areas where he went to work were so far. But he kept going," Her Majesty said.
Sahat's daughter, Dr Ornsuree Boonyawiwat, said she was proud her father had worked for the Royal Family.
"He's my role model," she said, "He has proved to me that goodness exists in this world."
The bathing rite for the crash victims attracted a large number of mourners, including Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, Royal Thai Army commander-in-chief General Anupong Paochinda, and Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti.
Earlier in the day, Suwit ordered the entire helicopter fleet of the Natural Resource Conservation Aviation Office - to which the helicopter belonged - suspended from service pending inspection.
The crash has now been widely blamed on the lack of weather radar on the helicopter. Suwit has ordered all similar aircraft of the office to be checked and equipped with the necessary safety features.
Suwit gave the order during a meeting with the office's aviation expert, Pol Lt-Colonel Anan Salangkul.
Anan said the office had 14 helicopters - nine of them in flying condition.
"We have discussed the provision of additional equipment for the nine helicopters, including weather radar," he said. Suwit will today inspect the helicopter parking facility of the office's fleet.
Anan said the 13 pilots at the office were shaken by the accident. "It will take time to restore their morale," he said.
An aviation expert at the Royal Thai Army commented that weather radar would not be a good option for the office's helicopter fleet.
"Such helicopters are too small. How can they accommodate weather radar equipment?" he said on condition of anonymity. "You need to think about the extra weight. Can the helicopter shoulder it?"
He said these small helicopters were designed for visual flight rules (VFR), and not intended for full-option features.
"The weather radar is appropriate for aircraft with instrument flight rules [IFR], but not the VFR type," he added.
He said the government should consider buying IFR helicopters instead of trying to upgrade the current VFR fleet with weather-radar installation.
"Otherwise, the government has the option of borrowing IFR helicopters from other government agencies for the Natural Resource Conservation Aviation Office," he said.