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Chiang Mai, Thailand – A Royal Thai Air Force training flight ended in tragedy on January 29, 2026, claiming the lives of two pilots. The crash of an AT-6TH attack aircraft has left a community in mourning and prompted an outpouring of support for the families of those lost.
Search and Rescue Training Turns Deadly
The incident occurred during a routine exercise,highlighting the inherent risks faced by military personnel.
The accident took place at 10:20 a.m. in the Chom Thong District, approximately 60 kilometers from Chiang Mai Airport.The AT-6TH, belonging to Squadron 411, Wing 41, was conducting a Combat Search and Rescue training mission when it went down. Wing Commander Samatcha Khunmat, the flight instructor, and Flight Lieutenant kornwit Jenkid, the second pilot, were both killed in the crash.
Recovery teams successfully retrieved the bodies of the two pilots from the wreckage at 2:43 p.m. The area was promptly secured for investigation.
Mr. Wichit Kunapan, 69, uncle of Flight Lieutenant Jenkid, shared that his nephew had called his father shortly before takeoff. Contact was lost after that brief conversation. The family learned of the crash around 10:30 a.m. and received official confirmation from the squadron commander around 11:00 a.m.
“he always loved being a pilot,” said Mr. Kunapan, looking at photos of his nephew from his school days. Flight Lieutenant Jenkid was a graduate of the Bodedai Self-Defense College in Japan and a member of the 57th pre-military student batch. His older brother also followed in his footsteps and became a pilot.
