Rescue workers have found two pilots from plane crash in central Vietnam
Both pilots – Colonel Nguyen Van Son and Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Hong Quan – were in stable health condition, and they were brought down from the mountain just at night, sources said.
Colonel Son, the 940th Air Regiment commander, and Lieutenant Colonel Quan, the 940th Air Regiment chief flight instructor, piloted a Yak-130 aircraft as part of a training exercise. They were said to conduct a long-distance, over-terrain flight, flying through clouds under complex weather conditions.
At around 11 a.m., as they completed their training exercise and prepared to land, the pilots discovered that the landing gear could not be deployed. Despite taking emergency measures, they were unable to resolve the issue. The pilots reported the situation to flight command and were authorized to parachute over the TB2 Firing Range in Tay Son District of Binh Dinh province.
Hundreds of officers and soldiers from the 940th Air Regiment, along with troops from Military Region 5 and local forces, were mobilized into the forest to search for the two pilots. Specialized equipment using advanced search technology was used by the rescue teams to locate the pilots’ position effectively.
After more than 10 hours, rescue workers approached the sites where the two pilots were staying thanks to their phone calls.
The Yak-130 is a two-seat training aircraft co-developed by Russia and Italy, designed primarily for pilot training. With two engines generating 2,500 horsepower each, it has a maximum takeoff weight of 10,290 kg and nine hardpoints for mounting various weapons.
Although it is primarily a trainer, the Yak-130 is also capable of combat operations, including reconnaissance and medium-range attacks, making it versatile for both pilot instruction and combat support missions. This capability allows pilots to train on systems and controls similar to those of advanced fighter jets while also using the aircraft in light attack roles if necessary.