On the afternoon of April 6, at the Government headquarters, the National Traffic Safety Committee held a national online conference to review the work of ensuring traffic order and safety in the first quarter, and directions and tasks for the second quarter of 2023, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, Chairman of the National Traffic Safety Committee.
Divers of the Naval Special Forces Brigade join the search for the last victim
Regarding the helicopter crash Bell-505 with serial number VN-8650 of the Northern Helicopter Company under the Vietnam Helicopter Corporation (Army Corps 18 - Ministry of National Defense) carrying 5 people (1 pilot and 4 passengers) to sightsee Ha Long Bay crashed on the sea of Hai Phong - Quang Ninh, reporting at the conference, Mr. Ho Minh Tan, Deputy Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam - Ministry of Transport , said that the unit has received a request letter from the manufacturer Bell and the Canadian Transportation Safety Board - the agency conducting the investigation of the aircraft accident, requesting support and sending representatives to participate in the investigation of the aircraft accident according to the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation.
Giving a quick report on the accident that occurred with the Bell 505 helicopter with registration number VN-8650 on the afternoon of April 5, Mr. Ho Minh Tan, Deputy Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, said that the aircraft took off from Tuan Chau parking lot at 4:56 p.m. on April 5 to make a 10-minute sightseeing flight to see Ha Long Bay.
At the end of the flight at 17:05 on the same day, the Field Commander and Flight Commander did not receive any contact from the pilot, so they reported to the Northern Helicopter Company's Command Center.
At about 17:25, the Commander of the airfield received information from the people that the plane had an accident.
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang chaired the national online conference to review the work of ensuring traffic safety and order in the first quarter of 2023.
After receiving information about the accident, the Northern Helicopter Corporation reported to the 18th Army Corps - Ministry of National Defense , the National Search and Rescue Center and the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam.
The units have deployed search and rescue work for the crew and the plane. The functional forces have basically determined the crash site of the plane. Through the search and rescue work, debris and the bodies of 4 victims have also been collected. Currently, the search and rescue work is continuing to be deployed.
According to Mr. Ho Minh Tan, the Bell 505 helicopter was imported into Vietnam to serve the missions of national defense, security, search and rescue, sightseeing, and tourism in 2018. Currently, the Northern Helicopter Company, a state-owned enterprise under the Vietnam Helicopter Corporation (Army Corps 18, Ministry of National Defense), is operating two Bell 505 flight crews, registration numbers VN-8650 and VN-8651. At the time of the accident, the Bell 505 helicopter with registration number VN-8650 had flown 488 hours with 2,655 takeoffs and landings; periodic maintenance was fully performed.
A piece of the Bell 505 helicopter, registration number VN-8650, was salvaged on May 6. Source: Vietnam Navy
Colonel, pilot Chu Quang Minh (born 1964) operates Bell 505 helicopter with registration number VN-8650 and has a commercial pilot license until June 2026.
Regarding weather and meteorological conditions at the time of the accident, Mr. Ho Minh Tan said that at that time, visibility was from 6 to 8 km; temperature was 26 degrees Celsius, completely suitable for flying by eye.
The Bell 505 helicopter is equipped with a system of equipment that can record images in the cockpit and is impact resistant. This is a device that can assist in the investigation of the cause of accidents and incidents.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam recommends continuing to focus maximum resources on search and rescue operations to find and recover victims and flight crew; and submitting to the Government to conduct an accident investigation in accordance with the law.
Specifically, based on current regulations of Vietnam and the world, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam classified "this as a high-level accident, with damage to aircraft and people". Therefore, the Authority recommended that the Government investigate the cause of the accident with the participation of relevant ministries, the designing country, the manufacturing country, the aircraft and engine manufacturers.
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