Memorial service for CASA 212 crewmembers on June 30
A memorial service will be held in Hanoi on June 30 for the nine crewmembers of rescue aircraft CASA 212, who died in a search and rescue mission.
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According to the High Command of Air Defence and Air Force, rescue aircraft CASA-212 coded 8983 of Brigade 918 of the Air Defence – Air Force Service unfortunately met with an accident on June 16 at the area of Bach Long Vi Island in the northern port city of Hai Phong.
The deceased included Colonel Le Kiem Toan, born in 1960; Colonel Nguyen Duc Hao, born in 1962; Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Chinh, born in 1977; Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Ngoc Chu, born in 1976; Major Le Van Dinh, born in 1984; Captain Do Van Manh, born in 1989; and professional army Senior Lieutenants Nguyen Ba The, born in 1982, Nguyen Van Thai, born in 1982, and Le Duc Lam born in 1985.
As of June 28 afternoon, the search and rescue forces found eight out of the nine crewmembers of the CASA 212. Their bodies were brought to the mainland on the day and will be identified on June 29.
The Ministry of National Defence has decided to grant a salary rise to late Colonel Le Kiem Toan and promotions in rank to the remaining eight others.
The President has decided to present the Fatherland Defence Order, first class, to each crewmember of the CASA 212.
The Ministry of National Defence is coordinating with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to propose the Government recognise the nine CASA 212 crewmembers and Colonel Tran Quang Khai, deputy head and chief of the staff of Regiment 923 under Division 371 of the Air Defence – Air Force Service, pilot of SU30 MK2, as fallen soldiers.
Meanwhile, search and rescue teams are working hard to find the remaining crewmember of CASA 212 and recover other parts of CASA 212 and SU30 MK2 aircraft.
On June 16, the CASA 212 with nine crewmembers on board was dispatched after rescue units received a help signal believed to be from Senior Lieutenant Colonel Tran Quang Khai who was the missing pilot aboard fighter jet SU30-MK2 that went down during a training session on June 14.
After passing Bach Long Vy island district in the Tonkin Gulf by 44 nautical miles, the plane asked for permission to descend but contact was then lost.
After a dozen days of searching, the SU30 MK2 was located at 25 nautical miles to northeast of Cua Van, central Nghe An province, while the CASA 212 was located at 15 nautical miles south-southeast of Bach Long Vi island near northern Hai Phong city.-
