SEARCH: Police divers prepare to search the Chao Phraya River in Nonthaburi’s Pak Kret district yesterday for a helicopter which crashed with a documentary production team on board. The helicopter was flying low when it hit power lines, police said. All on board managed to swim to safety. PHOTO: JETJARAS NA RANONG
http://bangkokpost.com/news/local/195812/four-escape-as-helicopter-crashes-in-river
Four escape as helicopter crashes in river
* Published: 12/09/2010 at 12:00 AM
* Newspaper section: News
A helicopter carrying a documentary production crew crashed into the Chao Phraya River in Nonthaburi's Pak Kret district yesterday.
The helicopter was flying low when its tail became entangled in electrical wires, causing it to plummet into the river. Two pilots, a cameraman and his assistant were rescued from the river by locals.
They escaped with only slight injuries, said Nonthaburi police.
Pol Col Thawatchai Nakrit, superintendent of Pak Kret police station, said the helicopter crashed near the pier at Klang Kret temple. It was a Robinson R44 owned by Helilux Co in Nonthaburi's Bang Bua Thong district, which rents out helicopters.
The two pilots on board were Aphinan Thanyapreedakul, 46, and Lt Arun Khumkwaen, 42. The cameraman was Somsak Nachainak, and his assistant was Patcharin Phatcharapraphanan, 26, who is also a reporter for the state-run NBT television channel.
Pol Lt Col Aphinan told police he flew the helicopter from Bang Bua Thong to Koh Kret, so the cameraman could film the area.
They flew around Koh Kret for about 20 minutes before the helicopter's tail hit the electrical wires and fell into the Chao Phraya. All on board managed to swim out of the helicopter before it sank to the bottom of the river.
Phatthanaphong Charattrakoon, the Helilux Co operator, said the accident would cost the company about 30 million baht in damages.
Wichian Phutwinyu, the Nonthaburi governor, yesterday inspected the accident scene.
He said police divers would be charged with locating the helicopter.
Once they do, a crane boat will be dispatched to lift the helicopter out of the river.
