President awards Fatherland Protection Medal to 2 pilots involved in plane crash in Binh Dinh

The President issued Decision No. 1267/QD-CTN dated November 21, 2024 on awarding the Fatherland Protection Medal to the two pilots of the plane crash in Binh Dinh, Colonel Nguyen Van Son, Regiment Commander of Regiment 940, and Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Hong Quan, Flight Commander of Regiment 940 (Air Force Officer School, Air Defense - Air Force Service, Ministry of National Defense).

The decision stated that the two pilots were awarded the Third Class Fatherland Protection Medal for "having outstanding achievements in performing combat flight training tasks, contributing to the cause of building socialism and defending the Fatherland". The decision takes effect from the date of signing (November 21, 2024).

Previously, on November 6, 2024, Air Force Regiment 940 organized a daily training flight at Phu Cat airport, Binh Dinh province. The flight team, including take-off and landing commanders, pilots, logistics and technical support members, and search and rescue forces, did a good job of preparing and carrying out the flight mission according to plan. Colonel Nguyen Van Son, Regiment Commander, and Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Hong Quan, Flight Director of the Regiment directly practiced the flight crew controlling the Yak-130 aircraft with registration number 210D.

When completing the mission, the plane was piloted back to the airport to land, but the plane had a technical problem, the landing gear could not be released, the pilots urgently took emergency measures to save the plane but were unable to do so. The flight commander ordered the pilots to parachute. In a very short moment, the plane was at low altitude, falling very quickly, endangering their lives, but the pilots remained calm, bravely piloted the plane away from densely populated areas and parachuted safely, causing no damage.

Lieutenant General Pham Truong Son, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army and leaders of Binh Dinh province encouraged and visited the health of the two pilots (Photo: binhdinh.gov)

On November 7, General Phan Van Giang, Minister of National Defense, also sent a letter of commendation and commendation to the leaders and commanders of functional agencies at all levels in the Air Defense - Air Force Service for directing and closely organizing the training and combat readiness tasks of the forces; commending the Air Force Officer School, Regiment 940 and the officers, staff and soldiers in the Flight Department for doing a good job of preparing, organizing tight flight command, and promptly and flexibly handling situations that arose.

In particular, General Phan Van Giang praised Colonel Nguyen Van Son and Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Hong Quan for their qualifications, extensive training experience, bravery, and determination, for remaining calm, confident, not afraid of sacrifice, correctly identifying opportunities, and promptly handling unforeseen situations in the air. "That action demonstrates the training level, combat readiness of the Air Defense - Air Force and the responsibility for the people and the Fatherland of revolutionary soldiers in the new era," Minister Phan Van Giang emphasized.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/chu-tich-nuoc-tang-thuong-huan-chuong-bao-ve-to-quoc-cho-2-phi-cong-vu-roi-may-bay-o-binh-dinh-207585.html