Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has announced that the Thai Air Force deployed two F-16 fighter jets in response to a Myanmar military council K-8 aircraft flying close to Thai airspace along the Thai-Myanmar border. The incident occurred on May 6 at 12:45 PM near the Kanchanaburi province border area, where the Myanmar military aircraft came extremely close to Thai airspace. Although the Myanmar military council’s aircraft did not directly violate Thai airspace, its close proximity prompted the Thai Air Force to scramble two F-16 fighters as a precautionary measure.
According to the Thai Deputy Prime Minister, after Thai military authorities contacted their Myanmar counterparts regarding the incident, the Myanmar military council’s aircraft retreated from the area. The Thai military maintains that while such flight path deviations can occasionally occur, the situation was resolved through communication between the two countries. The incident highlights the ongoing tension in the border region and the Thai military’s readiness to respond to potential airspace violations.
On the same day, the Thai Deputy Prime Minister also addressed the flight of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) belonging to the Thai Land Department in the Thai-Myanmar border area. He clarified that this UAV operation was not a border violation but rather a routine operation that did not require detailed public disclosure. Thai military officials emphasized that while flight path deviations can occur, such incidents are typically resolved through bilateral communication and coordination mechanisms between the two countries. The incident demonstrates Thailand’s commitment to maintaining its territorial integrity while managing border relations through diplomatic channels.
