BANGKOK (THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - A co-pilot of a budget airline collapsed during flight after take-off from Hat Yai to Bangkok on Wednesday.

The pilot of Lion Air flight SL 8537 then made an emergency return to Hat Yai Airport and rushed his co-pilot to a hospital. The latter was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

The co-pilot is a Dutch national whose name was not revealed.

The flight had 152 passengers on board and all were safe.