Now for a look at news making international headlines this Tuesday, 15 March…
Small Plane Crashes on Okinawa's Lejima Island
INTERNATIONAL: A small private plane crashes and catches fire on Okinawa's Iejima island,on Saturday, March 12, leaving two persons dead.
A nonprofit organization that owns the air rescue plane have said the two victims are pilots aged 74 and 61.
There were no patients on the aircraft at the time of the incident. Transport ministry officials have said the men were undergoing training for takeoff and landing.
The plane collided into a fence when landing on a runway.
Dramatic Shootout Between a Gang and Police
Thai police were about to serve an arrest warrant to Jamrat Rakchan, 45, when the gunfight has ensued as the Rakchan has resisted authorities in Phatthalung province, southern Thailand on Friday.
Police Major Anan Meesang has died at the scene after being shot with an unknown type of firearm in the head. One of the assailants Watchara Rattanasuwan, 38, was also killed.
Two other officers were injured. Lieutenant Colonel Chatchai Sanyo who had severe gunshot wounds in the right forearm while Lieutenant Colonel Nopada Natanapong has suffered a minor injury in the right eyebrow area as well as wounds from broken glass.
Officers have tracked down the gang and found their car have parked on the foothill of Khao Banthat wildlife sanctuary. Cotton wool soaked with blood was found burnt outside the car while blood traces were also found in the vehicle.
Police have also been sent to hospitals and pharmacies in the area to watch out for the assailants. Locals have also been offered rewards if they come across the gangsters and contact the police.
One of the escapees, a hired gunman Jamrat Rakchan had been accused in murder cases and attempted murder cases in both Phatthalung and Songkhla province, wanted by the police with a bounty of 100,000 baht, around $3,000 usd.
Police Lieutenant General Nanthadej has added that police have gotten in touch with the other two escapees Jay Suwanmano, 22, and Attapol Maiaon, 21, parents to collect DNA.
He has said: 'We have collected DNA samples from the gangster’s parents so we can compare them with the traces found in the car.'
Attapol’s mother, Wanpen Maiaon said: ‘My son has left the house since March 7 saying that he went to work lumbering with a friend in another village. Last night, I heard from relatives that my son had gone with a group of friends and was chased by police. There was a shooting fight and he was injured.”
Eight Dead and 30 Injured in Bus Crash After Driver Falls Asleep
Eight people were killed while 30 others were injured in a bus crash after the driver allegedly fell asleep while doped up on methamphetamine.
The tour bus operated by Thailand’s state-run transport company smashed into a concrete barrier before hitting a bridge pillar in Saraburi province on Saturday afternoon March 12.
Driver Narinsart Hongsa, 30, was taking passengers to Bangkok from Roi-Et province when he is believed to have fallen asleep on the wheel, according to police report.
Narinsart has initially denied falling asleep and said that one of the tyres might have burst but test results allegedly showed that he was high on methamphetamine during the crash.
Police Colonel Chetchai Chetsiri has said: 'The driver later confessed to us that he was high on methamphetamine while driving. We have filed two charges against Narinsart for being intoxicated while driving and for causing property damage and deaths to others.'
At the scene, the cement block barrier was completely smashed while the vehicle's interior, the front right wheel, and the bar area on the right side of the bus was also damaged.
Officers took Narinsart into custody for a thorough investigation while the injured passengers were taken to Saraburi Hospital, Saohai Hospital and Kaeng Khoi Hospital for treatment.
The injured passengers and the relatives of those killed in the crash will now be compensated by the transport department's insurance company while investigations are ongoing, officials have said.
