On Thursday, a small plane carrying nine passengers crashed close to Bangkok, sparking a protracted and challenging search and rescue mission. The plane lost communication after about ten minutes of takeoff from Bangkok's main international airport, which was scheduled to depart for Trat airport at 2:46 p.m. local time. Two Thai pilots, five Chinese passengers, and two Thai passengers are thought to have died in the incident.
The plane was seen by locals in the Bang Pakong neighborhood of Chachoengsao falling and exploding, inflicting damage to neighboring residences. The plane's debris was dispersed around a mangrove forest, and the overflow from a nearby river caused muddy, wet ground that hindered rescue attempts.
Teams conducting searches encountered numerous obstacles, such as high tides and logistical problems, which caused delays in their work. In order to sort through wreckage, including luggage and body parts, workers had to maneuver through mangrove trees and mud while wearing big excavators and headlights. At two in the morning, the search was stopped; it was picked back up the next day.
Nearly 70 body pieces from the jet and its debris have been sent for identification as part of the investigation into the crash's cause by the authorities. There was no black box aboard the aircraft, and contact was done directly with air traffic control.
