Narathiwat task force denies helicopter shooting report

The Narathiwat Task Force has denied viral online reports that a military sergeant used an M16A2 assault rifle to fire at a group of youths from a helicopter in Chanthana district of Narathiwat province, saying the aircraft was deployed solely for aerial patrol and surveillance.

The helicopter’s crew carried no weapons, and no sergeant was on board, the task force said.

The statement was issued following reports by several media outlets claiming that a sergeant aboard a helicopter had fired at the youths, injuring one of them.

The task force confirmed that the helicopter was deployed during the weekend’s wave of incidents in the province, but said its mission was limited to aerial patrol and surveillance in support of and coordination with ground troops.

It said the helicopter carried no weapons for use in an operation and that no firing was conducted from the aircraft.

Four personnel were on board during the mission, the task force said, adding that none carried their personal firearms in accordance with an order prohibiting personnel from taking their service weapons aboard aircraft.

The crew consisted of a pilot, a co-pilot, an operations officer and a mechanic.

The first three were commissioned officers, while the mechanic was a non-commissioned officer.

The operations officer was responsible for aerial surveillance and reporting to and coordinating with ground units, while the mechanic was responsible for ensuring the aircraft was in proper working order as part of his normal duties.

The task force stressed that no sergeant was aboard the helicopter and therefore could not have fired at a group of youths as alleged in the reports.

The reports of the alleged shooting went viral on social media after the injured youth’s elder brother wrote on his social media page that his brother had been shot from a helicopter during the unrest on August 22.

The Narathiwat Task Force urged media organisations and the public to exercise caution when receiving information and to rely on thoroughly verified facts to prevent misunderstandings.