A C-130 military transport aircraft belonging to the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) skidded off the parking area at Samui Airport during a training mission due to a malfunction in the braking system. All 62 people on board escaped unharmed.
The incident occurred at Samui Airport in Surat Thani province, Thailand, when a Royal Thai Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft veered out of control during a routine training flight on Saturday afternoon and went beyond the boundaries of the parking area. The eight crew members and 54 passengers on board were safely evacuated.
RTAF spokesperson Air Vice Marshal Prapas Sonjaidee stated that the aircraft, belonging to the 601st Squadron, was on a training mission along the Don Mueang–Trang–Samui–Don Mueang route when it failed to stop due to a braking system malfunction. The aircraft grazed a power pole before becoming lodged in nearby shrubbery.
Emergency Protocol Activated
Upon noticing the issue, the pilot quickly activated emergency protocols, and passengers and crew were safely evacuated through the rear exit. While the aircraft did not sustain significant structural damage, the front of the left wing made contact with a power pole, and the nose of the plane struck a parking sign and surrounding vegetation.
Royal Thai Air Force officials emphasised that the incident did not pose any threat to airport infrastructure or public safety. An official investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the incident.
