Six Thai police officers killed in plane crash during drill
This handout photo taken and released by the Royal Thai Police on Apr 25, 2025 shows the wreckage of a plane crash that killed Thai police officers in the sea off the coast of Prachuap Khiri Khan province. (Photo: Handout via AFP/Royal Thai Police)
BANGKOK: Six Thai police officers were killed when a small plane crashed into the sea during a parachute training drill near a resort town on Friday (Apr 25), police said.
The crash occurred around 8am (9am, Singapore time) off the coast of Prachuap Khiri Khan province south of Bangkok.
Police spokesperson Archayon Kraithong said five of the six officers on board were killed at the scene. The sixth died later in a hospital, according to a Royal Thai Police statement on Facebook.
Authorities are examining the aircraft's black box data recorder to determine the cause of the crash.
Thai media reported the aircraft went down about 100m from the shore in Cha-am district, a popular weekend getaway around 130km southwest of the capital.
Footage shared on social media showed the plane spiralling before plunging into the sea, with people wading through chest-deep water to reach the site.
Police chief Kitrat Phanphet pledged a full investigation.
"The Royal Thai Police express their deepest condolences to the brave officers who lost their lives," the statement said.
