Three Thai business representatives, including the president of the Subcontracting Promotion Association, died when the helicopter they were travelling in crashed in the Czech Republic in central Europe.
The Thai Subcontracting Promotion Association (Thai Subcon) on Thursday confirmed the death of its president Chanatip Surachaisitikul and the two businessmen accompanying him.
Chanatip Surachaisitkul, President of the Thai Subcontracting Promotion Association (Photo from www.thaisubcom.com)
They were identified as Chanpim Sarutanon, the marketing manager of Medica Technology Co, and Ekkarat Lekpornprasert, who was in charge of marketing at CS Engineering Autoparts.
They were on board 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 had occurred in Pilsen, about 100 kilometres southwest of Prague.
Local firefighting spokesman Petr Poncar said the helicopter crashed onto the roof of an empty factory hall in the industrial zone of Pilsen on Wednesday.
The CTK news agency reported it was a small Robinson helicopter.
The Thai Subcon announcement 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. A visit to the Czech Republic was on their itinerary.
They had business talks with Workpress Aviation in Pilsner on Wednesday. The European firm was keen to invest in aviation parts near U-tapao airport in Rayong.
After the meeting, the Workpress Aviation CEO invited them on a helicopter ride, Thai Subcon said.