A Soviet-era Sukhoi Su-22 fighter-bomber of Vietnam People’s Air Force (VPA) crashed while landing in the country’s northeast region.
The accident occurred when the Su-22 jet was landing at a military airfield located at Yên Bái Air Base (VVYB) on January 31, 2023. According to a report published by VnExpress the fighter-bomber pilot, identified as a 31-year-old Deputy Squadron 1 Commander, was participating in an Air Force Division 921 military exercise.
Moments before the crash, the pilot was ordered to parachute out of the aircraft. Unfortunately, he did not follow the order and attempted to take back control of the aircraft. According to the report, the plane crashed after encountering “an issue”.
Immediately after the fatal incident, the country’s Ministry of National Defense launched an investigation to determine the exact cause.
This is not the first time the Su-22 fighter-bomber has been involved in an incident in the country. In 2015, a Su-22 operated by Vietnamese forces ditched into the South China Sea. Fortunately, the pilots managed to safely eject from the plane. However, another accident involving the Su-22 jet resulted in the deaths of two pilots after the plane crashed in Vietnam in 2018.
The VPA aircraft fleet currently consists of Soviet Union-developed planes. The military pilots operate Sukhoi Su-30s, Sukhoi Su-27s, and Sukhoi Su-22, some of which have been in active service since 1979.