Three persons were killed when a trainer plane crash landed near Nakhon Phanom airport shortly after takeoff.
The plane with the pilot, co-pilot and a pilot trainee was on a training flight from Nakhon Phanom airport to Don Mueang.
The pilot, Pol Lt Col Somboon Kamnuengratanawongsa, sought permission from the control tower to take off at about 5 am Thursday.
But 30 seconds after the plane was airborne, the pilot sought permission from the control tower for emergency landing.
However the plane lost balance and crashed on the ground just 200 metres from the runway.
Killed in the fatal crash included co-pilot Sub Lt Chinawut Nualkrab, and a trainee Yingyos Udonpim.
The DA-40 type trainer plan plane belonged to the International Aviation College Nakhon Phanom.
However it lost contact with the pilot.
Airport and security officials now sealed off the crash site to facilitate a team of air safety personnel to investigate.
