An F-16A Fighting Falcon fighter from Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) fell on the morning of this Tuesday (08). The pilot, Lieutenant Aviator Pakorn Pisitsart, managed to eject and was rescued.
The aircraft registration 10331 belonged to the 103 Squadron, subordinate to Wing 1 at Korat air base, located about 250 km northwest of Bangkok. The fighter was on a training flight over Chaiyaphum province, in the northeast of the country, and crashed in a forested area.
According to RTAF spokesman, Deputy Air Marshal Prapas Sonjaidee, the pilot was assisted by residents of the area, who were also advised not to approach the wreckage of the aircraft.
Sonjaidee also said a team of inspectors had been sent to the crash site to collect evidence. A committee will be created to investigate the causes of the crash of the aircraft.
This is the second serious accident involving an RTAF fighter. In early December 2021, the crash of an F-5F Tiger II left one pilot seriously injured. Thailand has 34 F-5E/F fighters, 11 Saab JAS-39C/D Gripen and 51 F-16A/B Fighting Falcon.
