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Russian-made trainer aircraft pilot recalls plane crash in central Vietnam

Russian-made trainer aircraft pilot recalls plane crash in central Vietnam

Saturday, January 13, 2024, 08:33 GMT+7
Russian-made trainer aircraft pilot recalls plane crash in central Vietnam
Air force officials visit captain Do Tien Duc (man in white), who piloted a military trainer aircraft when it dropped from the sky in Quang Nam Province on January 9, 2024. Photo: Tho Dong / Tuoi Tre

The pilot of Russian-made plane SU22 recounted on Friday that he managed to tailor the aircraft away from residential areas before it fell out of the sky in Quang Nam Province, central Vietnam on Tuesday.

The military trainer aircraft crash left a local man injured and damaged two houses and nearby gardens in Dien Ban Town.

Failing to control it, he decided to jump off the falling aircraft with a parachute.

A military plane managed by Air Division 372 in Da Nang City. Photo: Tho Dong / Tuoi Tre
A military plane managed by Air Division 372 in Da Nang City. Photo: Tho Dong / Tuoi Tre

Captain Do Tien Duc, head of an air force team at Air Division 372, who piloted crashed aircraft Su-22, had his health condition improve on Friday after the plane mishap.

He is still receiving treatment on his back at a military hospital in the central region.

His plane was the second aircraft to undergo a training flight on that day, captain Duc said.

He was on board the plane with another pilot to start their training flight on Tuesday morning.

After he tried to lower the landing gear for a touchdown at Da Nang Airport in the namesake city, a neighbor of Quang Nam Province, he adjusted the flight cycle to 90 percent, but the aircraft meter did not change, he recalled.

Realizing the technical error, he and his co-pilot knew that the plane would not touch down on a runway, captain Duc said.

He quickly reported the case to his flight commander, while trying in vain to speed up and slow down to check the flight cycle meter.

They rapidly observed the underneath, and found the western part of the locale empty, so pilot Duc diverted the plane toward the west.

When the engine did not work, he deployed a parachute to save his life and his co-pilot.

Captain Duc unveiled that it crossed his mind that he could sacrifice with the falling aircraft.

He strove to make a safe landing and minimize damage for residents below.

“I tried to lower the plane to the lowest altitude and fly at a minimum speed, and jumped off it,” Duc said and expressed his gratitude for locals who helped him escape from the parachute after the touchdown.

Duc said that he felt relieved to be announced that the crash did not kill any resident, and left little damage.

A still image taken from a video clip shows the pilot of a falling military plane jumping off it with a parachute
A still image taken from a video clip shows the pilot of a falling military plane jumping off it with a parachute

In response to the crash, major Nguyen Cong Thuy, said that there may be several problems during a training flight.

When in trouble, a pilot can jump off the falling plane with a parachute under the directive from his commander, or can actively handle the situation.

Colonel Hoang Trung Kien from Air Division 372 said that it was fortunate as the pilot could steer the troubled plane away from residential areas.

Colonel Kien told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that police are investigating the cause of the aircraft crash.

It will take officers at least 10 days to gather evidence, decode the data from the plane’s black box and conclude the probe, Colonel Kien said.

The scene of a crashed military plane in Quang Nam Province, central Vietnam, January 9, 2024. Photo: Cong Tam / Tuoi Tre
The scene of a crashed military plane in Quang Nam Province, central Vietnam, January 9, 2024. Photo: Cong Tam / Tuoi Tre

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Tieu Bac - Truong Trung - Tho Dong / Tuoi Tre News

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