Air Force spokesman Capt. Monthon Suchakorn says the cause of Wednesday's crash in the restive south at about 11:30 a.m. local time (0430 GMT) is under investigation.

Monthon says authorities have not ruled out that Islamic separatists brought the chopper down.

He says the helicopter crashed in Bethon district in Yala province, one of three Muslim-dominated provinces where a four-year insurgency has raged.

More than 3,300 people have been killed since insurgents launched their offensive against the Thai government in 2004.

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