Thais die in chopper crash

Three Thai business figures, including the head of the subcontracting promotion association, died when the helicopter they were in crashed in the Czech Republic on Wednesday.

The Thai Subcontracting Promotion Association (Thai Subcon) confirmed the death of its president, Chanatip Surachaisitikul, and two other Thai business people accompanying him.

They were identified as Chanpim Sarutanon, marketing manager of Medica Technology Co, and Ekkarat Lekpornprasert, who was in charge of marketing at CS Engineering Autoparts.

They were on a private helicopter flown by Bohumil Doubek, chief executive officer of Workpress Aviation. Doubek also died in the crash.

Czech rescue service spokesman Martin Brejcha said on Wednesday that the crash occurred in Pilsen, about 100 kilometres southwest of the capital Prague.

A local firefighter, Petr Poncar, said the helicopter crashed onto the roof of an empty factory hall in Pilsen's industrial zone.

Thai Subcon said the three were on a trip to promote investment in aviation and medical equipment in Thailand, arranged through the Board of Investment office in Frankfurt. The visit to the Czech Republic was on their itinerary.