Rescue teams battle rising water levels in search for pilots and seven tourists in submerged plane

Rescue teams are battling rising water levels in the search for two pilots and up to seven tourists who are trapped in a plane that crashed in a mangrove forest..

Police believe the crew and holidaymakers are entombed inside the cabin 16ft under swamp-like mud in the wooded area in Chachoengsao, 150km east of Bangkok. They fear the nearby tidal river will submerge the area by 10pm and are using an excavator to try and reach those inside.

Flight records show the Cessna 208B Grand-Caravan took off from the Suvarnabhumi International Airport transferring the tourists to the Ko Mai Si Airport, a small air strip on a remote island.

The were then due to be taken by boat to the luxury SOtraveler hotel on the larger Koh Khood island.

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 a picture from a female clothing along with a Prada wallet and other travel accessories, including a pre-paid tourist sim car.

Local media reported that two pilots were onboard and seven passengers were listed. Their identities and nationalities have not been disclosed.

Police Lieutenant Warayut Chanwichumet, Deputy Chief of Investigation from the Bangpakong district said rising water levels from the river were hampering search efforts.

The policeman said: ‘The nose of the plane was stuck in the mud more than five meters deep. Rescuers from Chachoengsao are mobilising to search, but the current problem and obstacle is that the water is rising.

‘The water pumps are unable to contain it. However, they are urgently searching for the missing persons.'

Nattharat Nunpradech, Public Relations Officer of Chachoengsao Rescue Unit, said that while searching, they found pieces of the plane scattered throughout the mangrove forest.

He said: 'Officers tried to search for the remains of the small plane but found only bags and luggage. Most of the debris found was debris from the rear of the plane.

'As for the cabin for passengers, it is likely buried in the mud and all the passengers are likely in there. The current obstacle is that the two backhoes have not been able to dig up the soil yet because the surrounding area is all mud. The water level in the sea is now rising in the area. Officials prepared a water pump, but the water kept coming down and filling the area, so they still couldn't dig up the wreckage.'

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.'