This is the dramatic moment a hero pilot steers his aircraft away from homes to save dozens of lives before dying in a crash landing.
Squadron Leader Naruepol Lueadkusol was training a new pilot in the Aero L-39 Albatros military jet yesterday (July 11) afternoon in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand.
But mid-way through the flight, the engine stalled. Naruepol tried to re-start the plane but when it was not successful, he made a Mayday call and prepared for a crash landing.
The Thai Air Force pilot bravely stared the plane away from a nearby town and busy motorway aiming for dense woodland.
Tragically, he was killed after the eject mechanisms failed to operate properly. The trainee pilot survived and staggered out of the wreckage.
Dash cam footage from a passing car just before 4 pm shows how the Royal Thai Air Force jet plunged into trees in the Saraphi district.
Survivor Thanawat Khunkhunthod said that his pilot and teacher was trying to keep the plane away from the city as much as possible.
The Wing Commander said: ''He told me to leave the plane first while he was trying to control it at last minute, just to make sure the civilians would be safe.''
Air Marshal Pongsak Semachai, the Air force spokesman, said that Air Force officers and related officers closed the scene for investigation.
He said: ''It’s the second fatal incident involving an air force jet in two years. In 2017, a pilot was killed during the air show on Children’s Day.
''We're collecting evidence and pieces of debris from the aircraft to find out the cause of the crash.''
