Sattahip aviators survey Hua Hin oil spill

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A naval aviation task force from Sattahip was dispatched to Hua Hin to try to determine the source of an oil spill that fouled beaches in Prachuap Khiri Khan province.

Naval Aviation Squad Region 1 sent aircraft 1109, group 101, Airbase 1 from the U-Tapao airfield in Rayong with Wing Cmdr. Pakorn Kaewchuang and Flt. Officer Nattanan Sutikithirat as the pilots.

Naval Aviation Squad Region 1 sent aircraft from the U-Tapao airfield in Rayong to try to determine the source of an oil spill that fouled beaches in Prachuap Khiri Khan province.

Flight wing commander Vice Adm. Rangsit Sattayanukul said the spill, which hit beaches in Hua Hin and Cha-am, was thought to have come from a large commercial vessel.

Aircraft 1109 reported Oct. 28 that oil was spotted a mile off the coast and spread over about four nautical miles. It subsequently washed up on beaches throughout most of last week, met by an exhaustive cleanup effort from government workers and volunteers.

As of last weekend, the source of the spill had not been determined. However, samples of oil were taken for analysis, which officials hoped would point to the source.