Pilots and seven tourists feared dead as private jet crashes into forest in Thailand

Two pilots and up to seven tourists are feared dead after a private jet crashed into a mangrove forest in Thailand this afternoon.

The Cessna 208B Grand-Caravan took off Bangkok carrying the European family to Trat province in the east of the country some 285 km (177 miles) away.

But the aircraft crashed and burst into flames in a swamp in Chachoengsao province shortly before 3:30pm local time. Locals said they heard an explosion.

Authorities are currently searching for the missing pilot and passengers. Pictures from the scene show female clothing and a picture of three young girls along with a Prada wallet and other travel accessories.

Local media reported that two pilots were onboard along with seven passengers.

Resident Ang Trasawat, 69, said he heard a loud explosion before running to the crash site, where they found scattered pieces of the plane.

He said: 'There were explosions in the air. Before the plane fell, the sound was loud, then the plane fell to the ground. After that, I ran to see the scene. Pieces of the plane had been scattered around, including near a house.'

Preecha Boontham, 56, added: 'I heard the plane accelerating very loudly. There was no smoke coming out. Then the plane descended towards the fields and landed in the mangrove forest. It was a small white plane with two wings. After the crash, there was a loud explosion.'

The aircraft HS-SKR was last registered to Siam General Aviation before being used by Thai Flying Service Co Ltd. It was reportedly being used for a private charter flight when the crash happened.

Records show it departed from Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok at 2.46pm on August 22, bound for Koh Mai Si Airport in Trat, with flight TFT209, before losing signal at 2.57pm.

Police said they have closed the area while they search for survivors of the crash.

Police Lieutenant Warayut Chanwichumet, Deputy Chief of Investigation from the Bangpakong district station said they received a report of the crash and sent police and paramedics to the scene.

At the site, they found the wreckage of the plane scattered in the mud across an area of approximately 328 feet (100 metres).

They were unable to locate any pilot or passengers but discovered baggage from those onboard.

The police officer added: ‘We have blocked off the area to prevent further accidents due to an oil leak from the plane.

‘We have inspected the wreckage and have not yet found any pilot or passengers. We will expand the search radius and dig the ground beneath the wreckage to locate the pilot and passengers.

‘We will also inspect the flight information to determine the plane's owner and the number of passengers.'