Two-seat helicopter crashes near factory in Samut Prakan, two injured
A Guimbal Cabri G2 training helicopter crashed near a factory in Samut Prakan on May 3 after developing a technical fault shortly after takeoff, injuring the pilot and passenger only slightly.
SAMUT PRAKAN — On May 3, 2026, at 09:10, emergency responders were dispatched after a two-seat training helicopter crashed in a wooded area near Soi Bang Mek Khao, Suwit Sai Kao Road, Thai Ban subdistrict, Mueang district.
Initial reports to the Prakan rescue center described an aircraft down near the end of the soi, beside a factory compound. Firefighters, rescue teams and officers from Mueang Samut Prakan Police Station reached the site, which was located in dense brush. Crews had to run hoses through the undergrowth to extinguish flames around the aircraft's engine. The fire was brought under control in about 30 minutes, and the area was cordoned off for further investigation.
The aircraft was identified as a Guimbal Cabri G2, a light two-seat helicopter. Early checks indicated the pilot and a passenger, reported to be a mechanic, sustained only minor injuries.
Local residents said no one witnessed the moment of impact, learning of the incident only after the crash. The helicopter is believed to be privately owned, with a landing area behind a nearby factory adjacent to the crash site. Police are inspecting the premises as part of the inquiry; media access has not been granted, and no official statement has yet been issued by the operator.
Pol. Capt. Jakkrit Srirotchanakul, superintendent of Mueang Samut Prakan Police Station, said the aircraft had taken off at around 08:30 from a factory in the area, bound for another facility in Chonburi. After climbing to roughly 10 meters, it reportedly developed a technical fault, prompting the pilot to attempt an emergency landing about 30 meters from the lift-off point. During touchdown, the rotor struck tall grass, igniting a fire. Both occupants exited the aircraft safely, with no serious injuries reported.
Preliminary findings suggest insufficient engine power may have led to the emergency landing. The helicopter, in service for around two years, was said to have valid flight documentation.
Rewat Hoonarat, deputy district chief of Mueang Samut Prakan, noted the crash site is within an industrial zone away from residential areas, and no nearby residents were affected. Forensic officers have been called in to examine the scene in detail, while local authorities are assessing damage and gathering evidence for the investigation.
The Guimbal Cabri G2, designed by Bruno Guimbal, a former Eurocopter engineer, is widely used in flight training. It features a composite airframe, glass cockpit avionics such as Garmin G500H TXi, an enclosed tail rotor (Fenestron) for improved safety and noise reduction, and a digital engine governor system. The model is certified under EASA CS-27 and FAR Part 27 standards and has been approved for use in Thailand by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT).
