The Civil Court on Wednesday ordered Thai Aviation Industries to pay 2.7 million baht compensation to the father of one of two police cadets killed in a parachute training jump three years ago.
The court found TAI and one of its technical staff guilty of negligence in the death of Chayakorn Phutthachaiyong. The company repairs and supplies civilian and military aircraft.
The court found they used substandard slings for the static lines installed in the plane and awarded damages of 2.7 million baht to the father.
Chayakorn, then 19, and Nathawuth Tirasuwannasuk, 21, died on March 31, 2014 when the static line used to open their chutes snapped as they left the plane, and they plummet to earth at Nareusan camp in Phetchabun’s Cha-am district.
A third cadet fell into a pond and received major injuries, but survived.
Chayakorn's parents were watching from the ground when their son jumped from a Royal Thai Police transport plane. A total of 37 students from the Royal Police Cadet Academy in Sam Phran district of Nakhon Pathom province took part in the training jump.
Chayakorn's father, Sathon Phutthachaiyong, filed suit, seeking 40 million baht from 10 defendants for the death of his son. (continues below)
FLASHBACK to March 31, 2014. Left, experts inspect a snapped aircraft cable, the likely cause of the deaths of two police cadets who died at Naresuan camp in Phetchaburi's Cha-am district. Right, the family of police cadet Chayakorn Putthachaiyong visit the spot where his body was found. (Bangkok Post photos)
He named Thai Airways International (THAI), the first defendant, and TAI the second defendant. Officials from the two agencies in charge of purchasing equipment used for the parachute jump and aircraft maintenance were named co-defendants.
The court ordered TAI and its official to pay 2.7 million baht, with annual interest of 7.5%, to the plaintiff. The court reduced the compensation amount on grounds the cadet himself partly was responsible in failing to deploy his back-up parachute, as he had been instructed during his three months of training.
The court acquitted THAI and the other defendants on grounds that they had not done anything careless or negligent that led to the death of the cadet.
Mr Sathon said he would appeal the ruling, as he questioned the ruling his son was partly to blame for not making use of his back-up parachute.