Body parts found in Thai plane crash that killed family from China

Human remains were found at the site of a small plane crash in a mangrove forest in eastern Thailand.

Rescuers used backhoes and pumping machines to search a the swamp where a Cessna Caravan 208B aircraft plunged into the mud in Chachoengsao province on August 22 evening.

Provincial governor Chonlatee Yongtrong said all nine people onboard the plane operating flight TFT209 were presumed dead as teams had uncovered body parts in the mud-entombed wreckage.

He said: 'We found many human remains. The plane dropped vertically, so we have to dig approximately 33 feet into the ground.'

The five tourists were identified as a family from China. They were Chang Jing, 43, Tang Yu, 42, Yin Jin Fang, 45, Chang Jing Jing, 12, and Yin Hang, 13.

While the Thai crew were Captain Anucha Dejapirakchon, 61, co-pilot Pornsak Totap, 30, and two Thai passengers Napak Jeerasiri, 35, and Siriyupa Arunathit, 26.

The aircraft HS-SKR was last registered to Siam General Aviation before being used by Thai Flying Service Co Ltd.

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.

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.

Police had earlier closed the area to search for survivors. They said the search mission was complicated by a nearby tidal river spilling into the crash site.

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.

Pictures from the scene showed a picture from a piece of female clothing along with a Prada wallet and other travel accessories, including a pre-paid tourist sim card.

The recovered plane parts were taken to the Khaodin Subdistrict Municipality and are awaiting inspection by aviation experts.

Authorities said they hoped to find and reassemble the rest of the bodies.