2 pilots killed in military trainer aircraft crash in N. Thailand

BANGKOK, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Two pilots were killed on Thursday when their light attack aircraft crashed during a training mission in northern Thailand's Chiang Mai province, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) said.

The AT-6TH aircraft, assigned to Wing 41, went down at around 10:20 a.m. local time in Chom Thong district, about 60 km southwest of Chiang Mai International Airport, said RTAF Spokesperson Chakkrit Thammavichai.

The pilots were conducting a combat search and rescue training exercise at the time of the accident, and no civilian injuries or property damage were reported in the vicinity of the crash site, Chakkrit said in a statement.

Authorities will conduct the investigation with utmost thoroughness and strict adherence to aviation safety standards to determine the exact cause, the spokesperson said.

The air force expressed its condolences to the families of the pilots and said it would provide full assistance.■