4 dead, 1 missing in Vietnam helicopter crash: State media
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Debris from the Bell 505 helicopter that crashed at the border of Quang Ninh province in Vietnam on Wednesday.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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HANOI – Four people have been confirmed dead with one person still missing, following a helicopter crash near Vietnam’s Halong Bay, state media said on Thursday.
The aircraft, carrying one pilot and four Vietnamese tourists, lost contact five minutes after taking off for a flight over the Unesco World Heritage Site.
“The body of the pilot was recovered last night at 11pm,” state media VnExpress reported.
A rescue team found part of the Bell 505 helicopter on Thursday morning with a body inside, it said.
Two bodies were found near Halong Bay, VnExpress reported, without providing further details.
“The search and rescue team are still looking for the fifth body and the remaining part of (the) helicopter,” it added.
Vietnam’s civilian aviation sector has maintained a strong safety record, although accidents involving military aircraft are more common.
The Bell 505 helicopter belonged to the state-owned Northern Vietnam Helicopter Company.
The Vietnam News Agency reported that its parent firm, Vietnam Helicopter Corporation, said it would stop all sightseeing tours nationwide effective immediately.
The company began flying tourists over Halong Bay’s famous limestone karst rock formations in 2019.
A 10-minute ride can cost up to US$120 (S$160) per person.
No accidents had been reported since it began the business, which is aimed at the growing number of tourists to Vietnam.
The Bell 505 is a light helicopter designed and manufactured by United States firm Bell Helicopter. AFP
