26 Killed In Jet Crash In Thailand

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29880, 21 July 1962, Page 11

26 Killed In Jet Crash In Thailand

(NZP.A.-Reuter —Copyright) BANGKOK, July 20. All 26 persons aboard were killed when a United Arab Airlines Comet jet airliner crashed in dense jungle 60 miles north of Bangkok early today. The crew of a United States helicopter crew reached the wreckage site and reported that a preliminary check showed “no survivors,” United States Embassy officials in Bangkok said, the Associated Press reported.

The airliner disappeared early today on a flight from Hong Kong to Bangkok en route to Cairo.

The airliner had been sighted on a Bangkok airport radar screen shortly before 1 am. as it was preparing to land

The airport last had contact with the pilot when he

said he was flying at 13.000 feet and preparing to land. The jet was carrying 18 passengers and eight crew.

The Comet's pilot, named as a- Captain Sadek. last reported his position at 42 miles north-east of Bangkok.

Officials said the weather was fine, with few clouds and good visibility. The search was begun at first light by American Marine helicopters and light planes, and infantry units stationed in Udorn and Korat.

Airport officials at Bangkok said they had learned that the Comet asked the control tower at Korat airfield

last night for permission to make an emergency landing. The tower granted permission but radio contact with the plane was lost four minutes before it was due to land. First reports indicated that the plane crashed in a monsoon storm at a Government forest preserve on Khao Yai Mountain.

The public relations officer for United Arab Airlines in Hong Kong said the plane carried 18 passengers, including three Americans and an all-Egyptian crew of eight. The passengers included six women and two children, while there were two stewardesses among the all-Egyp-tian crew.'

In Cairo, an airline official said one of the stewardesses aboard the Comet. Aida Khaled, was a former local beauty queen who once won an international contest in Brussels as the “most charming’’ stewardess, Reuter reported.