JUNGLE SURVIVAL EXERCISE: A US Marine holds a cobra during a jungle survival programme as part of the annual combined military exercises, Cobra Gold 2013, at a navy base in Sattahip yesterday. Cobra Gold is a joint, multi-national military training exercise that focuses on maintaining and improving military-to-military relationships among nations sharing common goals and security commitments in the Asia-Pacific region, including the US, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia. — AFP photo
While another jokes around with detached cobra. –AFP
BANGKOK: A US Marine helicopter yesterday made a ‘hard landing’ during military exercises in northern Thailand, seriously injuring some of the passengers, the US Embassy in Bangkok said.
Embassy spokesman Walter Braunohler said there were no fatalities in the incident, which involved a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter carrying US personnel taking part in the Cobra Gold joint military drills.
A source close to the exercises said two of the helicopter passengers were believed to need emergency surgery, while one sustained more minor injuries and a further three were unhurt.
Cobra Gold is the largest US multilateral exercise in the Asia-Pacific, bringing together thousands of troops from the US, Thailand and other countries for field training.
The annual drills are a key part of the US military relationship with Thailand, whose air bases and ports remain vital to the American military’s logistical network in Asia. — AFP