Ten army officers have been detained and are facing a disciplinary probe after being caught at the centre of a brawl in a video clip that has gone viral online.
Facebook photos show air force personnel with bruises and scratches after an alleged attack by about 20 army soldiers.
The army ordered an investigation into officers' conduct after the clip showed military men from different units fighting at Khlong Pleng nightclub in Pathum Thani's Khlong Luang on Tuesday night.
Pol Lt Praphun Ruangsuwan from Pratunum Chulaporn police station in Pathum Thani's Khlong Luang district said the footage showed about 20 army officers armed with rifles attacking three handcuffed air force officers. About 100 club-goers were watching but dared not help.
The investigator said air police department flight sergeant Tossaporn Jamsakorn, 29, told them that he and two other officers were working part-time as security guards at the club.
The other two officers were Flt Sgt Worawit Bamrungmuang, also attached to the air police department and Flt Sgt Jiraphun Sansuk, 44, attached to the civil engineering department.
Flt Sgt Tossaporn told police that about 20 army officers in military uniforms armed with rifles arrived at the club on a military vehicle around 1am on Wednesday morning.
One of them said: "We're here to stage a crackdown. Who takes care of this club?"
About 20 army officers then began to attack Flt Sgt Worawit and Flt Sgt Jiraphun as Flt Sgt Tossaporn went to get help from the club's manager, Pol Lt Praphun said.
The victims were punched in the face and hit on the head with rifles, according to the investigator.
Flt Sgt Tossaporn said a man who claimed to be an army captain asked the sergeant if he could recognise an army officer who visited the club the night before.
Flt Sgt Tossaporn told police he had tried to stop three men in casual clothes from smoking in the club the night before the brawl. The guest refused and claimed he was an army officer, Pol Lt Praphun said.
The sergeant told the investigator the guest pushed him in the chest when he was asked to leave the club.
Pol Lt Praphun said the injured air force officers were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment after the army group left the club.
Army chief and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and ACM Prajin Juntong were told about the fight and urged the two parties to talk.
Gen Prayuth has ordered a disciplinary probe into the incident.