ISTANBUL

A light aircraft crash in central Thailand has claimed the lives of all nine people on board, including five Chinese nationals, officials confirmed on Friday.

The Cessna Caravan C208, operated by Thai Flying Service, took off from Suvarnabhumi International Airport at 2:46 p.m. local time (0746 GMT) on Thursday. The plane crashed in the district of Bang Pakong, Chachoengsao Province.

The aircraft lost contact with the control tower just 10 minutes after takeoff, en route to Mai Chee Island in Trat Province, according to public broadcaster Thai PBS World.

A search operation has recovered human remains from the crash site, where efforts are ongoing to locate the remaining victims and the main wreckage.

Local authorities believe the crash resulted in the deaths of all seven passengers—five Chinese and two Thais—as well as the two Thai pilots.

The remains are being sent to the Institute of Forensic Medicine for identification as the investigation continues.