Light aircraft crashes in Saraburi after hitting power lines, pilot injured

2026-03-16 - 03:14

SARABURI — 15 March 2026, A light aircraft crashed into a roadside area in Saraburi’s Phra Phutthabat district on Sunday evening, striking power lines and a large tamarind tree before going down near a village shop and injuring the 75-year-old pilot. Pol. Lt. Col. Saman Phuwipak, an investigator at Phra Phutthabat Police Station, said authorities received a report from a member of the public that a small aircraft had crashed near a shop along a road in Moo 2 (Soi 6), Than Kasem subdistrict, Phra Phutthabat district. He reported the incident to his superiors before heading to the scene with Pol. Col. Weerawut Damsuwan, superintendent of Phra Phutthabat Police Station, and volunteers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation. At the scene, officers found a yellow light aircraft with the markings “US 27” written in English on its wings and fuselage. The aircraft was severely damaged, with debris scattered across the area. One person was injured in the crash, a 75-year-old man and resident of Lopburi province. He sustained minor injuries but was conscious and able to communicate before being taken to Phra Phutthabat Hospital. Nearby, authorities also found a damaged spirit house that appeared to have been struck by the aircraft. A red Yamaha PCX motorcycle, licence plate Khonyor 588 Lopburi, was also damaged and found toppled near the base of a large tamarind tree. The aircraft had reportedly clipped the tree, tearing branches and part of the trunk. High-voltage power lines running along the roadside were also struck by the aircraft and torn down across four pole sections spanning about 2.5 kilometres, along with two sections of low-voltage lines covering about 1.5 kilometres, causing a widespread power outage in the area. Workers repair power lines damaged when the light aircraft struck them before crashing Achara Suksawat, the shop owner at the scene, said she was washing dishes when she heard a very loud engine noise approaching. “I thought someone had brought a racing car to the resort nearby because the sound was extremely loud,” she said. Moments later, she heard a crash and saw the aircraft strike the tamarind tree in front of her house before going down. “I was shocked and didn’t know what to do. I ran out and saw an injured man lying there, still holding his phone,” she said. Achara Suksawat, a shop owner, speaks to reporters after the aircraft crashed near her roadside shop A small fire also broke out after the crash, but she and her brother managed to extinguish it with water before it could spread. Villagers and friends of the injured man later arrived and helped transport him to Phra Phutthabat Hospital. Achara said local residents told her the injured pilot was believed to be a flight instructor and possibly a military officer, though she was unsure if that information was accurate. She added that the large tamarind tree in front of her house likely prevented the aircraft from crashing directly into the building. “I believe it was the protection of Luang Pho Khuai. I keep his image in my home, and I believe it protected us,” she said, referring to a revered monk. She also said workers who usually sit under the tamarind tree to eat and drink were not there that day. Her nine-year-old grandson, nicknamed Boom, a Grade 3 student at Anuban Phra Phutthabat School, had been eating instant noodles near the spirit house moments earlier and had just walked away when the crash occurred. He sustained a minor head injury after being struck by a piece of debris. According to villagers working in nearby fields, the aircraft had been flying unusually low and appeared to be experiencing mechanical problems. Witnesses said they heard the engine rev loudly before the plane struck high-voltage power lines, lost control and crashed into the large tamarind tree in front of the shop. Pol. Lt. Col. Saman said investigators initially believe the aircraft may have been returning from a training flight and attempting to land at a small private airfield called Thantawan, located between Soi 4 and Soi 5, about 1 km from the crash site. The pilot may have been trying to contact ground control to request a landing when the aircraft malfunctioned, leading to the crash, he said. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident.