Thai rain-making aircraft crashes, 2 deaths

BANGKOK - A rain-making single-engined turboprop crashed, killing the pilot and trainee pilot in western Thailand on Tuesday.

Both were flying over the skies in Kanchanaburi Province on duty when the aircraft experienced mechanical failure, local media reported.

The Cessna Caravan airplane of the Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives crash-landed in a hillside area in Sai Yok district of Kanchanaburi province, about 200 kilometers west of Bangkok, on Tuesday mid-morning.

The pilot, identified as Capt. Trin Amaranand, and the trainee pilot, identified as Suksan Chongsathiantham, were killed at the scene.

Capt. Trin was reportedly training Suksan on a flight training course when the mishap suddenly occurred.

Kanchanaburi provincial governor Chirakiat Phumisawat said authorities have scrambled to the hillside area to retrieve the bodies of the pilot and the trainee pilot from the wreckage.

"The two died immediately after the aircraft plunged into the ground," said Chirakiat. "Witnesses said they could hear a huge explosion after the plane crashed. The noise of the explosion also amplified as a result of the explosion of chemical substances in making artificial rain."

The authorities are yet to conduct investigation to find out the cause of the accident, he said.

In an effort to tackle drought in rural Thailand, the late King initiated the Royal Rainmaking Project since 1955 in an attempt to bring rainwater to farmers throughout the country.