Hanoi, June 16 (IANS) An aircraft with nine people aboard lost contact on Thursday while carrying out a rescue mission in Vietnam, an official said.
The CASA aircraft lost contact when it was flying over Bach Long Vi water area in Hai Phong, some 90 km from capital Hanoi, an official from the National Committee for Search and Rescue told Xinhua news agency, adding that the search operation is underway.
The aircraft was carrying out searching mission for the SU-30 fighter jet that went missing on Tuesday.
A Russian-made SU-30 fighter jet of Vietnam air forces with two pilots aboard disappeared from radar screen on Tuesday while carrying out a training mission.
One of the two pilots was rescued by local fishermen on Wednesday while the other pilot remains missing.
According to the Ministry of Defence, on Thursday, the search area for the SU-30 and the missing pilot was extended.
