Thai air force probes mushroom pick-up mission

Thailand's air force has launched an investigation after a pilot allegedly landed a search-and-rescue helicopter in a field to pick mushrooms for his mother.

Seven air force crew including the two pilots are being probed after they made the unscheduled hour-long stop in a rice paddy in western Kanchanaburi province on Tuesday, said air force spokesman Monthon Suchookorn.

"It's obviously wrong to leave the plane unattended for one hour - it could risk terrorist sabotage," Monthon said.



Local press quoted villagers in Kanchanaburi who said they were perplexed when the chopper flew in low over the fields and then landed.

They asked the crew what they were doing, and one pilot replied that his mother had called and asked him to pick up some mushrooms.

Monthon said that the search-and-rescue crew should have been flying over the area for reconnaissance.