What happened
During an aerial demonstration at the U-Tapao Naval Air Station (NAS), an aircraft was performing maneuvers as part of an ongoing airshow. The flight was operated by a crew consisting of six members. While operating in the area surrounding the airbase, the flight crew encountered an unforeseen technical or operational issue.
In response to this unexpected situation, the decision was made to abort the demonstration and execute an emergency landing back at the U-Tapao NAS. However, during the approach phase of the flight, the aircraft crashed. The accident resulted in four fatalities and left two crew members with serious injuries.
Findings
Information regarding the specific nature of the unexpected situation encountered by the crew remains under investigation, though it was the primary driver for the decision to attempt an emergency return to the airfield.