Freshwater is carried onto naval ship HQ211 to support searching forces at sea (Photo: VNA) Nghe An (VNA) – Major Nguyen Huu Cuong, a pilot on the military aircraft that went missing during a training session off the coast of the central province of Nghe An, was saved at 5 am of June 15.
Cuong, who is also the head of the SU30 fighter squadron under Division 371’s Regiment 923 of the Air Defence – Air Force Service, was in stable condition when he was found by fisherman Pham Van Le from the neighbouring province of Ha Tinh.
A ship was deployed to the fishing boat’s location to carry the pilot back to the mainland.
Rescue forces are continuing to search for the other on board – Senior Lieutenant Colonel Tran Quang Khai, deputy head and chief of staff of Regiment 923, and the missing aircraft.
The Su 30MK2 aircraft lost contact at 6:50 am of June 14 during a training session in the area of Hon Mat Island, about 40km off the coast of Nghe An’s Vinh city.
On June 14, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc sent a dispatch asking the Defence Ministry to seek all measures and mobilise forces to speed up the search for the two pilots and the aircraft.
The ministry is required to investigate reasons for the incident and review the flight control process to learn from experience to avoid similar accidents.-VNA
