A pilot who went down with his plane in Lop Buri on Friday chose not to eject from the aircraft in a bid to spare the lives of local people, his commander said.
Probe: Investigators check the charred remains of an F-16 fighter that crashed in Lop Buri during a training flight on Friday afternoon, killing the pilot, Noppanon Niwasanon, inset.photos: Pattanapong Hirunard and bangkok post
Group Capt Rawin Thanomsing said yesterday that Noppanon Niwasanon most likely did not activate the ejector seat because he was concerned the plane would crash into the nearby Khok Samrong community.
While the cause of the crash is still under investigation, the plane's debris field covered a 200m radius near residential areas.
Noppanon has been posthumously promoted to senior group captain, an air force spokesman said yesterday. Noppanon crashed during a training flight in an F-16 Fighting Falcon. Air Marshal Monthon Sutchukorn said the air force promoted him from flight lieutenant because he was committed to his work.
The military will pay Noppanon’s relatives 2.4 million baht compensation for his death, he added. Noppanon, 30, from Sa Kaeo province, was taking part in the exercises at the army airfield base in Chai Badan district at 2.10pm on Friday, Air Marshal Monthon said. About 40 minutes after taking off, the plane crashed in Khok Samrong district of Lop Buri.
Noppanon’s body was still in the cockpit and forensic science officials who inspected the scene and collected evidence took his body to Anandamahidol Hospital in Lop Buri. The cause of the crash is still under investigation, but the initial investigation suggests it was an accident, Air Marshal Monthon said. A team of investigators and American technicians from Lockheed Martin were deployed to examine the scene and interview witnesses.
“They are working hard to collect information to find out the cause,” Air Marshal Monthon said, adding that aircraft used for training are not equipped with a black box.
The air force will pay damages to the owner of the land, he said.
Noppanon’s body was taken from a hospital in Lop Buri to Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital in Sai Mai district of Bangkok under the supervision of the air force yesterday, and at 10am today it will be transported to Don Muang Air Force Base for a ceremony with military officers.
A bathing rite will take place at 6.30pm today at Wat Phra Si Mahathat temple in Bang Khen district of Bangkok, and a funeral hosted by the Royal Thai Air Force will run until Saturday at Taksinpradit Hall. The cremation ceremony is scheduled for next Sunday.
Noppanon’s father, former wing commander Chaleaw Niwasanon, 68, travelled with his wife, Siriwan Niwansanon, to the hospital in Lop Buri to see their son’s body. They said the loss was “heartbreaking”.