Deputy PM requests efforts in search for victims of aircraft accidents

Hai Phong (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung requested all-out efforts to search for and rescue those missing in the Su30 MK2 and Casa 212 military aircraft accidents during a working session with the Defence Ministry’s Front Line Command based in the headquarters of the Navy High Command in the northern port city of Hai Phong on July 17.

The Su30 MK2 aircraft with two pilots went missing at 6:50 am of June 14 during a training session in the area of Hon Mat Island, about 40km off the coast of the central province of Nghe An’s Vinh city. One pilot has been rescued by fishing boats and brought ashore safely.

The Casa 212 with nine crewmembers on board was dispatched after rescue units received a help signal believed to be from Senior Lieutenant Colonel Tran Quang Khai, who is the remaining missing pilot on the Su30 MK2 plane.

After passing Bach Long Vy island district in the Tonkin Gulf by 44 nautical miles, the plane asked for permission to descend but contact was then cut.

Several debris and objects were found 20 nautical miles to the south-southeast of Bach Long Vy island and three nautical miles to the delimitation line on the Tonkin Gulf. They have been determined by competent agencies as those belonging to the Casa 212 aircraft.

Deputy PM Dung, who is Chairman of the National Committee for Search and Rescue, asked search and rescue units to work closely together and with foreign counterparts, or even deploy local fishing vessels for the effort.

The Defence Ministry was requested to investigate the accidents’ cause and encourage soldiers and officers to overcome difficulties and fulfill their assigned tasks.

The Ministry of Information and Communications is to publish the latest and correct news about the search and rescue.

The same day, leaders of the Air Force and Air Defence Service and the General Department of Politics’ Department of Policy visited families of the victims and extended their condolences.

One day earlier, China deployed a vessel to the east of the Tonkin Gulf delimitation line which anchored opposite to the area where Casa 212 lost communication at 12.30pm on June 16.

At 7am of June 17, Chinese vessels 46021 and 45102 arrived in the area to partner with Vietnamese coast guard and other forces in the search.-VNA