Senior Lieutenant Colonel Tran Quang Khai who died in a training session with the Su-30 MK2 fighter jet has been promoted to colonel as announced by the Ministry of National Defense.
Khai, 43, deputy head and chief of staff of Regiment 923 was co-pilot on the Su-30 MK2 which crashed off the central province of Nghe An on June 14. His body was found three days later about 20 nautical miles offshore the province of Thanh Hoa.
A memorial service will be held today, June 20, from 7:00- 9.30 a.m. at the Fourth Military Region’s hospital in Nghe An Province.
Colonel Khai will be laid to rest at a cemetery in his hometown in the northern province of Bac Giang tomorrow.
The search for the Su-30 MK2 has been delayed since June 19 due to bad weather.
Meanwhile, the search for the Casa-212 and nine crew members which crashed on June 16 near Bach Long Vy Island in Hai Phong City while searching for the Su-30MK2 is still going on.
The National Committee for Search and Rescue said on June 19 that they found an oil slick near the site where the Casa coast guard plane is believed to have crashed.
Thousands of people from the People’s Navy, the Border Guard, Coast Guard and fishing boats have been mobilized in the search and rescue efforts.
China has also sent 11 ships and to help Vietnam find the coast guard plane.
