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Three hurt in US helicopter hard landing in Thailand

Three hurt in US helicopter hard landing in Thailand

BANGKOK: A US Marine helicopter on Wednesday made a 'hard landing' during military exercises in northern Thailand, seriously injuring some of the passengers, the US Embassy in Bangkok said.


By AFP

Wednesday 20 February 2013 04:08 PM


Embassy spokesman Walter Braunohler said there were no fatalities in the incident, which involved a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter carrying US personnel taking part in the Cobra Gold joint military drills.

A source close to the exercises said two of the helicopter passengers were believed to need emergency surgery, while one sustained more minor injuries and a further three were unhurt.

Cobra Gold is the largest US multilateral exercise in the Asia-Pacific, bringing together thousands of troops from the US, Thailand and other countries for field training.

The annual drills are a key part of the US military relationship with Thailand, whose air bases and ports remain vital to the American military's logistical network in Asia.