Nine soldiers, including several senior officers, died after their Bell 212 helicopter crashed in Muang district of Phayao province Monday evening.
Villagers and soldiers were at the scene within minutes of the crash, after take-off from Ban Dok Bua in Phayao's Muang district. The intense fire from the helicopter's burning fuel made it impossible to rescue anyone.
Maj Gen Songphol Thongjeen, deputy 3rd Army Region commander, was among those on board the chopper.
The helicopter left Khun Chuang Thammikarat Camp under the 17th Infantry Regiment at Phayao Military District to fly back to an army base in Chiang Rai.
The chopper had been in the air about 10 minutes before contact was lost, according to deputy army spokeswoman Sirichan Ngathong, who spoke to the press in Bangkok.
It was later found by villagers, engulfed in flames in a rubber plantation at Ban Dok Bua in tambon Tha Wang Thong, a short distance from the camp.
The accident took place at 5.30pm.
The nine officers on board were a pilot, a co-pilot, two mechanics and five passengers.
The victims were identified as Maj Gen Songphol, Col Kitti Suwanchareon, Col Yuttaphong Phuenfung, Lt Col Wuttisak Soonthornsook, SM 1 Anan Chomchiangkham, Lt Col Manit Surasaena (pilot), Capt Woraphong Changsalak (co-pilot), SM 1 Somphob (engineer) and SM 1 Aphirun (engineer).
Shortly after the accident, soldiers in Phayao military district and the 17th Infantry Regiment were dispatched to the scene.
They combed the area and were initially able to recover six bodies.
Minutes to live: Maj Gen Songphol Thongjeen, deputy commander of the 3rd Army Region, was photographed with aides and other army officers just before boarding the helicopter that took them to their deaths.
Army chief and Deputy Defence Minister Udomdej Sitabutr ordered the 3rd Army Region and relevant authorities to search for the remaining passengers shortly after he received the report of the crash. Ban Dok Bua villagers and civil defence volunteers joined the search for the remaining bodies among the helicopter debris.
Gen Udomdej told the soldiers to keep searching until the bodies were found.
Not long after Gen Udomdej's order, Pol Lt Col Kriengsak Wonguthai, in charge of crime suppression and deputy chief of Muang Phayao police station, said the rescue team found the remaining three bodies in the wreckage.
Pol Lt Col Kriengsak said investigators had yet to question villagers who witnessed the crash to find out more about the accident.
All the bodies were taken to Phayao Hospital for autopsies.
One villager who witnessed the incident said the accident scene was around five kilometres away from the village.
He said he saw the helicopter fly overhead and then fall from the sky. He then saw a huge explosion as the helicopter crashed.
Phayao governor Chuchart Keelapaeng said one witness said he saw the helicopter crash only five minutes after it took off.
Some believe a bad omen hung over the officers.
Before take off, SM 1 Anan posted on his Facebook page at 6.35am, "It's time to fly against the chill winds again ... old helicopter, new pilot. Visibility is bad, hell's door is open."