Two dead as military aircraft crashes during exercise in south-central Vietnam

Two pilots have been killed after a military aircraft crashed during an exercise in the south-central Vietnamese province of Khanh Hoa on Friday morning.

The accident occurred in Suoi Tan Commune, Cam Lam District, the Ministry of National Defense confirmed in an announcement on the afternoon of the same day.

Both officers on board the aircraft died after the crash.

Captain Le Xuan Truong was killed on the spot, while Sergeant Dao Van Long succumbed to his wounds at the hospital, according to the ministry.

Truong was an officer from regiment 920, which is manage by the Air Force Officer’s College under the Vietnam People’s Air Force, while Long was his trainee during the exercise.

The training session, which was carried out on the trainer aircraft IAK-52, started at 9:10 am.

The plane is severely damaged following the accident. Photo: Ho Minh Tam / Tuoi Tre

The officers were on their way back to the base when they lost contact with the headquarters at 9:35 am.

A search effort was then initiated, shortly before the plane crash was discovered.

The Ministry of National Defense is coordinating with the air force to determine the cause of the accident.

Competent authorities retrieve the plane’s wreckage. Photo: Thai Thinh / Tuoi Tre

Smoke comes out from the plane crash. Photo: Thai Thinh / Tuoi Tre

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