By Thai Newsroom Reporters
THE THAI AIR FORCE’S F-16A/B fighters have conducted regular air patrols along the Thai-Myanmar border in Mae Sot district of Tak to literally deter possible infringement of the Myanmar air force’s MiG-29 Fulcrum jets into Thai air space.
The MiG-29s have reportedly conducted air-to-surface strikes on Karen National Liberation Army positions in defence of a Myanmar infantry battalion inside Myawaddy township across the shared border from Mae Sot, prompting the Thai F-16s to scramble over the borderline with regular air patrols to literally keep out the Russian-built fighter jets.
No infringement by any MiG-29s into Thai air space has been reported as yet.
“24/7 all day & night…our Falcons maintain utmost readiness,” reads a message posted today (Apr. 10) on the air force’s website. Falcons refer to General Dynamics F-16A/B Fighting Falcon jets from Wing 4 in Takhli.
The Thai air force has been closely monitoring the war situation inside Myanmar focusing on the possibility of MiG-29s flying into the Thai air space at any given time, either purposely or inadvertently, the air force’s website says.
In 2022, one of the Myanmar air force’s MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters had infringed into Thai airspace over Popphra district of Tak, prompting a couple of the Thai air force’s F-16As to scramble from Wing 4 with a mission to intercept the identified intruder from across the Thai-Myanmar border.
The “straying” MiG-29 jet on a purported mission to attack KNLA rebel units had already flown back across the border into Myanmar air space well before the F-16s arrived at the scene.
Fighting between Tatmadaw troops and KNLA rebels who had claimed to seize most part of Myawaddy have reportedly escalated on the Myanmar side of the border, prompting a large number of civilians to flee across the common border into Thai territory.
A Myanmar passenger plane has recently landed at Mae Sot airport, fueling allegations that it had flown with some Myanmar government troops, weapons and cash aboard when it finally departed hours later.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Foreign Minister Panpree Bahiddha-nukara categorically dismissed the unconfirmed hearsay that the Myanmar passenger plane had contained any troops or weapons and that it had been earlier given permission from the Thai authorities to land at Mae Sot airport.
The prime minister said he viewed the Myanmar crisis as a “very delicate” matter which, he remarked, needs to be addressed tactfully by the Thai authorities whilst maintaining humanitarian aid for all refugees in Thai territory.
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Top and Front Page: Thai F-16s flying high. Photos: Thai air force Facebook page
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Thai F-16 fighters patrol border area as fighting escalates in Myanmar
