Ninh Thuan, April 21 (VNA) – Five days of searching for the two missing Su-22 fighter jets produced more debris but no sign of the two pilots, according to Lieutenant General Vo Van Tuan, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army.
Tuan said on late April 20 that the rescue force had only defined the approximate positions of the two aircraft, adding that the Defence Ministry will intensify the search for the missing men and the black boxes.
Divers have found air pipelines, wing fragments from one of the jets, the frame and glass cover of the cabin and debris believed to be a pilot chair.
The search area has been narrowed down to Binh Thuan provincial waters, said Lieut. Gen. Tuan.
A tug boat was added to the fleet of 10 specialised vessels and aircraft for the search and the search team itself was reinforced with 20 more naval soldiers.
The two Air Division 370 jets took off from Thanh Son Military Airport in Ninh Thuan province in the morning of Aril 16 for a training session. They lost contact a few hours later.
According to Major General Do Minh Tuan, Deputy Commander of the Vietnamese Air Force, the jets' estimated crash area was 15 kilometres north of Phu Quy Island bordering Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan provinces.
Tuan said on late April 20 that the rescue force had only defined the approximate positions of the two aircraft, adding that the Defence Ministry will intensify the search for the missing men and the black boxes.
Divers have found air pipelines, wing fragments from one of the jets, the frame and glass cover of the cabin and debris believed to be a pilot chair.
The search area has been narrowed down to Binh Thuan provincial waters, said Lieut. Gen. Tuan.
A tug boat was added to the fleet of 10 specialised vessels and aircraft for the search and the search team itself was reinforced with 20 more naval soldiers.
The two Air Division 370 jets took off from Thanh Son Military Airport in Ninh Thuan province in the morning of Aril 16 for a training session. They lost contact a few hours later.
According to Major General Do Minh Tuan, Deputy Commander of the Vietnamese Air Force, the jets' estimated crash area was 15 kilometres north of Phu Quy Island bordering Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan provinces.
VNA/VNP
