NAKHON PHANOM -- Three people were killed when a small twin-engined aircraft crashed into a rice field near Khok Kong village in Muang district of this northeastern border province before dawn on Thursday, according to media reports.
The DA42 training aircraft, operated by the International Aviation College Nakhon Phanom, had taken off from Nakhon Phanom airport about 4.59am.
About 30 seconds later the pilot reported an engine was on fire and requested permission from the control tower to make an emergency landing. The control tower turned on the runway navigation lights to assist the pilot, but then lost all contact with the aircraft.
The plane crash landed in a rice field near Ban Khok Kong village in Muang district, about two kilometres from the airport, killing all three people on board.
Those killed were identified as Pol Lt Col Somboon Khamnuengratanawongsa, 62, the chief training instructor at Nakhon Phanom International Aviation School, acting Sub-Lt Chinawut Nualklab, 36, the pilot, and Yingyos Udornpim, 54.
Yingyos was a former president of the Maha Sarakham provincial administration organisation and chairman of the Farmers Rehabilitation and Development Fund.
Nakhon Phanom governor Somchai Witdamrong said the International Aviation College had earlier sought permission to use Nakhon Phanom airport for a special flight to take Yingyos to Bangkok for an urgent meeting.
Investigation was underway to establish the cause of the crash, he said.
According to the manufacturer's specifications, the DA42 Twin Star is a four-seat, propeller-driven aircraft powered by twin turbo-charged diesel engines and is built largely of lightweight composite materials.