Thailand plane crash: All passengers dead after aircraft plunges into the sea

A plane has into the sea - killing all those on board.

The six passengers, all police officer, lost their lives after the small aircraft plunged into the Gulf of off the coast of Cha-am in the southwest of at around 8.25am local time (2.25am in UK). Police confirmed the crash happened during its force's test flight mission to prepare for a parachute jump training exercise.

"The Royal Thai Police would like to express their deepest condolences and sympathy," the force said in its latest update. It added the six passengers include the pilot, also a police employee.

Photographs show the wreckage in the water and emergency services gathered, following their desperate scramble to locate the plane and help those inside. They arrived to find four people had passed away instantly and, despite the best efforts of medics, the other two officers have also been declared dead. One man, thought to have been the pilot, was rushed to hospital, where he died.

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It is the latest in a string of fatal aviation disasters this year, including this month, . Rob Holland, a famous stunt pilot , just days before he was due to perform at an air show.

The identities of those killed in the Thailand disaster have not yet been disclosed. An investigation into the cause has been opened, though Police General Kittirat Phanphet, the national chief, has travelled urgently to the scene to oversee operations and monitor the situation. The boss said: "The families of the victims will be closely supported and funeral arrangements will be made for them. I have ordered a detailed investigation into the cause of the crash."

In the force's latest update, a spokesperson for Prachuap Khiri Khan Provincial Police said: "We are currently coordinating with relevant agencies to provide assistance because the incident occurred in the sea, far from the shore, which makes it difficult to provide assistance. If there are any further details, we will report them."

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Shocked witnesses, including fishermen, rang emergency services after seeing the plane plummet from the sky and into the water this morning. The model of the small aircraft is yet to be disclosed to the press. It is believed the plane careered into the water at least 100 metres from the shore, and opposite the Baby Grand Cha-am Resort, a hotel in Cha-am.

The district, which is in the southwest of Thailand, has historically been a popular tourist destination, including with Brits. However, the Thailand tourism industry says Cha-am has faced challenges in recent years, notably the "deterioration of scenery" due to coastal erosion and rising levels.

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