The search for the missing UH-72 A Lakota light utility helicopter with the commander of the Fourth Infantry Division Maj-Gen Nopporn Ruanchan, two pilots and two mechanics, on board continued this morning with 30 teams of soldiers, police, forestry officials, village volunteers, and air force personnel setting off on foot to suspected targets in the densely jungles adjoining Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai provinces.
The search was possible this morning only by foot teams as poor weather still obstructed search by aircraft.
Visibility from aerial search was just 20 metres, thus making it impossible to fly to the suspected targets where the last contact signal was received, said commander of the Third Army Region Lt Gen Somsak Nilbanjerdkul Monday morning.
He said villagers reported sighting the helicopter at 10.30 am yesterday but this has yet to be confirmed again.
Earlier the commander said the helicopter lost contact with flight control at 10.30am Sunday, about 30 minutes after taking off from Pang Ma Pha district of Mae Hong Son.
He said the helicopter was likely to have disappeared in the Doi Inthanon National Park in Mae Chaem district of Chiang Mai.
The helicopter was on a mission to Mae Hong Son on Saturday afternoon for a relief operation in Pai and Pang Ma Pha districts which were hit by flash floods.
The incident was immediately reported to the Army commander-in-chief Gen Thirachaibl Narkvanich yesterday, he said.
Lt-Gen Somsak said the UH-72 A Lakota which went missing was among six helicopters put into commission in September last year.
He said it was the only helicopter which was put into commission at the Fourth Infantry Division for use.
The Army ordered six UH-72A Lakota light utility helicopters at 2.4 billion baht from the US.
