Three army lieutenants who died when their patrol plane crashed on Thursday will receive posthumous promotion to the rank of major-general, as investigators try to find our why the plane went down.
Col Sirichan Ngathong, deputy army spokeswoman, said on Friday Lt Warote Praengkrathok, Lt Naruphol Pukthong and Lt Khemratch Duangkaew will each be awarded the postthumous rank of major-general, subject to royal approval, for their dedication to duty.
Their families will receive additional financial assistance of 1.6 million to 1.9 million baht from the army, she added.
Lt Warote was the pilot and Lt Naruphol his co-pilot on the Cessna-182 aircraft that crashed in rugged hill country 30 kilometres north of Mae Hong Son airport on Thursday. Lt Khemratch was one of the two other men assigned to the flight.
Sgt Maj 1st class Chachanan Khuenkaew survived and is being treated at Srisangwan Hospital in Muang district.
They were to patrol above the forest along the border with Myanmar, watching for encroachment. Air controllers lost contact with the aircraft shortly after take-off.
Investigators were still trying to determine the cause of the crash, army spokesman Col Winthai Suwaree said.