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AT LEAST five people have died after a police plane crash landed into the sea in Thailand.
The aircraft was caught on camera nosediving into the water while on a test flight to prepare for parachute training, say Thai police.
The propeller plane appeared to be a Viking DHC-6 Twin Otter with images showing the deadly wreckage floating on the sea in the Hua Hin district.
The plane crashed near Hua Hin Airport just after 8am.
Officials confirmed it was just over 300ft off shore at the time of the fatal plummet.
Only one passenger survived the horror smash, according to Royal Thai Police spokesperson Archayon Kraithong.
All of those on board were police officers, he later confirmed.
The cause of the crash is still unknown with investigations ongoing.
Archayon said officials are starting to gather evidence, including black box data to help with their inquiry.
Horrified guests at the Baby Grand Hua Hin Hotel watched on as the aircraft slammed into the water.
Onlooker Isara Supasa said: “I was shocked and ran onto the beach. There was no sign of life coming from the plane.”
Just weeks earlier, three people died after a medical helicopter carrying a patient plunged into the sea in Japan.
The coast guard deployed two planes and three ships to the area as part of the rescue operation with three survivors being found.
The pilot, Hiroshi Hamada, 66, Katsuto Yoshitake, helicopter mechanic and nurse, Sakura Kunitake, 28, were all rescued by the coast guard shortly after the crash.
The trio were found in the water clinging to inflatable lifesavers before they were rushed to hospital.
Why flying is still safe way to travel
By Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor
Recent horror stories of tragic turbulence, mid-air collisions and overturned planes are getting holidaymakers in a tizz, with many questioning whether or not they should be jetting abroad for their annual getaway this year.
But the truth is: flying is pretty much the safest method of transport there is. Aside from trains, perhaps.
To put it into perspective, approximately 1.19 million fatalities occur globally each year as a result of road traffic incidents, while the figure for plane fatalities is around 100 per year on average.
This means your daily commute to work probably puts you at greater risk than your summer holiday flight.
Rest assured, staff undergo vigorous safety checks ahead of take-off, while thorough maintenance checks are carried out every few hundred flights.
We are lucky enough to have some of the safest airlines right here in the UK, with Ryanair and easyJet named two of the safest in the world in AirlineRatings.com annual round-up for 2025. Wizz Air, Jet2 and British Airways are also on the list.
If you’re still feeling uneasy, the best way to keep yourself safe is by listening to the safety demonstrations and wearing your seatbelt when seated.
It’s understandable that people are panicking, but try to let the statistics reassure you that flying really is safe.
