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Deaths of 5 Chinese nationals in Thai plane crash sparks outpouring of grief on internet

  • Small plane headed to island resort in Thailand’s southeast lost contact with air traffic control shortly after take-off from Bangkok

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Rescue workers dig through the swampy crash site to recover the wreckage of the plane, in a mangrove forest in Chachoengsao province, Thailand, early on Friday.  Photo: EPA-EFE

Internet users in China reacted with grief and shock after five Chinese nationals, including two children, were killed in a plane crash in Thailand on Thursday afternoon.

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The small turboprop plane headed to Thailand’s southeastern Trat province lost contact with air traffic control shortly after taking off from Suvarnabhumi Airport in the capital Bangkok, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported.

China’s embassy in Thailand confirmed to Xinhua that five Chinese nationals were among the nine people on the plane. The others were the pilot and co-pilot and two cabin crew, all Thai nationals.

There were no survivors.

Two of the victims were children aged 12 and 13, local media reported.

01:18

Two Chinese children believed to be among 9 killed in Thailand plane crash

Two Chinese children believed to be among 9 killed in Thailand plane crash

A rescuer who identified himself only as Chu told The Beijing News that emergency workers had to dig up to 3 metres (about 10 feet) to find the victims’ remains at the crash site, a mangrove swamp in Chachoengsao province about 40km (25 miles) from Suvarnabhumi.

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