The Military Committee is investigating the helicopter shooting incident involving civilians, demanding radar data, flight plans, and rules of engagement information. Meanwhile, Pichan emphasized readiness to use parliamentary space to ensure fairness for all parties involved.
On 10 Sep 2026 GMT+7 at the Parliament, Mr. Ekrach Udom-amnuay, MP for Bangkok from the Prachachon Party and chairman of the House Military Committee, convened a meeting focused on investigating the use of weapons from aircraft or helicopters in Chanae District, Narathiwat Province. Colonel Pasakorn Boonwanich, Deputy Secretary of the Internal Security Operations Command Region 4 Front, and Thaloengsak Pathong, Regional Air Traffic Services Director of Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Ltd., attended to provide explanations.
The meeting questioned Aeronautical Radio of Thailand about flight data at Narathiwat Airport, specifically if records exist of helicopter takeoffs on the day in question. They explained that normal flights require advance flight plans, with air traffic data and playback recordings stored for about 30 days, which can be reviewed upon official request by the committee.
Regarding the night of the incident, Aeronautical Radio stated they received a flight plan from the unit indicating a planned flight at 18:00, with no notice of delays or rescheduling, so no flights were recorded after service hours. However, if flights occurred later, this could be verified through audio recordings and radar images.
This information requires further verification from the Pattani Air Traffic Control Tower, under the Royal Thai Air Force, as it operates outside Narathiwat tower hours. Radar data also has limitations detecting aircraft flying below 1,000 feet; in Narathiwat, radar from Hat Yai may not detect such low flights.
Deputy Secretary Pasakorn of the Internal Security Operations Command Region 4 Front clarified that the flight was an emergency without a flight plan. The Military Committee must obtain further information from related agencies to confirm the facts about the flight during the incident time.
The meeting then questioned Deputy Secretary Pasakorn about the AS550 helicopter suspected of involvement in the incident where bullets fell on civilians. Although the AS550 is a patrol helicopter capable of mounting machine gun pods or 2.75-inch rockets, Colonel Pasakorn confirmed no weapons were installed, and none of the helicopters in Region 4 Front are ever armed.
Further questions addressed whether “no weapons installed” referred solely to weapons mounted on the helicopter or also to personal weapons carried by personnel onboard. Colonel Pasakorn explained that carrying weapons onboard depends on the mission. Generally, pilots of the small AS550 patrol helicopter do not carry weapons for flight safety, and weapon use must comply with the Rules of Engagement.
Therefore, the committee requested Region 4 Front to provide criteria and definitions for each mission type, including operational protocols detailing what is permitted or prohibited. This is to clarify whether personnel onboard are authorized to carry personal weapons during missions.
Mr. Ekrach stated that the committee is awaiting forensic police results. Field inspections previously found bullet traces at the scene, and police have collected evidence to analyze bullet trajectories. The meeting agreed that scientific evidence should guide considerations, rather than speculation.
Finally, the committee resolved to request additional documents from related agencies, including flight plans, flight communication recordings, and radar data to verify whether a helicopter was airborne at the incident time. They will also follow up on the fact-finding report by the Fourth Army, assigned earlier by the Prime Minister. Once completed, the report will be submitted to the committee for further review.
Mr. Pichan Chaowaphatwong, advisor to the committee, concluded by urging all parties to carefully consider the situation. He noted that unrest in the southern border provinces has persisted for 20 years without improvement. Judging solely by this incident would be inaccurate, but the case under review is an example that could foster local dissatisfaction.
“Today’s review is important; the committee wants to ensure fairness for all sides and does not want the matter to be ignored. The public should feel that this Parliament remains a refuge and that the government does not neglect local issues. This investigation is not about blaming anyone but about showing the people in the southern border provinces that the Military Committee is truly committed to fairness for all,” Mr. Pichan said.