Five Thais were among 44 passengers and crew killed when a twin engine Lao Airlines plane plunged into the Mekong River Wednesday as it attempted to land at an international airport in Laos’ Champasak province, Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee said.

Some of the five Thais killed on the flight from Vientiane were reportedly employees of the Petroleum Authority of Thailand travelling to Champasak on a working visit, according to a senior PTT official.

Read more: The Nation