SONGKHLA — A trip by an army general to Saba Yoi district proved fatal for nearly 2,400 chickens spooked by noise and turbulence from his helicopter.
Charoon Boonla-iad said he was distraught after 2,385 of the 4,500 chickens on his farm panicked and died as a helicopter carrying Maj Gen Udomwit Anowal and his entourage was about to land near his property on Friday.
Other birds are still suffering after the incident and he said he feared more might die.
Mr Charoon's farm is about 300 metres from the landing pad and was on the flight path of the chopper. The Army Region 4 deputy commander was on a mission to promote the sufficiency economy to local officials and villagers.
The chickens panicked and flew all over the farm, dying by the hundreds amid the loud noise of the helicopter and strong turbulence whipped up by its rotor blades as it was descending, said Mr Charoon. "I could do nothing as I've never seen anything like this before," he said.
Maj Gen Udomwit returned to the farm on Saturday to talk to the owner and assess the damage, and agreed to pay him 280,000 baht for the deaths of his chickens.
Mr Charoon said he was satisfied with the compensation.
It was not known whether the general flew or drove to the farm.