The Royal Thai Air Force scrambled two F-16 fighter jets after a plane entered Thai airspace

Category: Military
Two Royal Thai Air Force F-16 aircraft fly in formation March 17, 2009, as a part of the aerial missions of Exercise Cope Tiger in Korat, Thailand. Cope Tiger is an annual multi-lateral exercise meant to demonstrate joint and multinational capabilities and improve interoperability between the United States, Thailand and the Republic of Singapore. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Melani R. Stemmler/Released)

The Royal Thai Air Force yesterday scrambled two F-16 fighter jets to patrol along the border in Tak province after a Myanmar fighter jet was spotted intruding into Thai airspace.

AVM Prapas Sonjaidee, spokesman for the RTAF reported that the Myanmar aircraft crossed into Thai airspace over Phop Phra district at 11.16am.

The jet launched air strikes on ethnic rebels along the border and intruded into Thai airspace before it disappeared from the RTAF’s radar system, he said.

The RTAF deployed two F-16 fighter jets to conduct air patrols over the border district.

A source said later that Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had spoken with air force chief ACM Napadej Dhupatemiya about the intrusion and asked the air force to lodge a protest via the Foreign Affairs Ministry and Myanmar’s air force attache in Yangon.

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