Thai Government Sends Condolences Over Plane Crash in Laos

BANGKOK, May 18 (TNA) – Thailand’s Acting Caretaker Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisarn and his deputy Phongthep Thepkanjana on Sunday sent condolence messages to the Laotian government, expressing sorrow over the deaths of several high-ranking Laotian officials following a military plane crash early Saturday. The ill-fated AN-74 TK300 aircraft crashed at about 7.00 a.m. Saturday (local time) in the Laotian northeastern province of Xieng Khouang. Among those confirmed killed were Deputy Prime Minister and also Defence Minister Lt. Gen. Douangchay Phichit, Cheuang Sombounkhanh, secretariat of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party’s Central Committee, and two others. Lao authorities unofficially reported that 14 people were killed and three survived the crash. The bodies of the four senior Laotian officers were sent to the capital Vientiane for a three-day religious rites, started Saturday. Mr. Niwattumrong said in his condolence message that those died in the accident were not only important to Laos as they had also played role in strengthening relations between Thailand and Laos in the past. “On behalf of the Thai government and people, I wish to extend my deep sorrow to the Laotian government, people and family members of those who had lost their lives”, he said. Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and also acting Foreign Affairs Minister Phongthep said in his message that those perished in the accident had played a vital role in strengthening relations between the two countries. (TNA)