Army helicopter crashes in Thailand, kills 9

An army helicopter crashed in Thailand on Monday killing nine persons, officials say.

One of the bodies recovered from the crash...PHOTO: Reuters/Daily News

Speaking to newsmen in Bangkok, the country’s capital, Army spokesman, Col. Winthai Suvaree said that the Deputy Commander of the Third army, Maj.-Gen. Songphol Thongjeen, was among those killed when the helicopter went down in Phayao province 700 kilometres north of Bangkok on Monday.

He added that however said that investigations were under way.

Reports said the aircraft was a Bell 212 model.

In 2012, the Thai army grounded its Bell 212 fleet after three crashes of different helicopter models within two weeks which had left 17 persons dead.