HANOI: A Bell 505 helicopter crashed on Wednesday during a flight over Vietnam’s Halong Bay, resulting in the death of two people and leaving three others missing.
The aircraft was carrying four Vietnamese tourists and a pilot when it lost contact just five minutes after taking off.
The helicopter was operated by the Northern Vietnam Helicopter Company, which began flying tourists over the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019.
The 10-minute ride can cost up to $120 per person.
According to Tuoi Tre online newspaper, “two bodies have been recovered while a search is ongoing for three others.”
Pham Quang Hien, party chief of the Cat Hai island district, confirmed the news and added that the search is still ongoing.
Safety record of Vietnam’s aviation
Vietnam’s aviation sector has had a good safety record, although accidents involving military aircraft are more common.
The cause of the crash is currently under investigation. No accidents had been reported since the Northern Vietnam Helicopter Company began its tourism business, which caters to the growing number of visitors to Vietnam, many of whom are from China.
The Bell 505 is a light helicopter designed and manufactured by US firm Bell Helicopter.
In January, a pilot was killed in northern Vietnam during a training session when a Russian-made Sukhoi SU-22 military fighter jet crashed.
In one of Vietnam’s worst military accidents, 19 people were killed in 2014 after a Russian-made Mi-171 helicopter crashed during a training exercise in the capital Hanoi.
The crash is a tragic event for the families of those affected and highlights the importance of safety measures in the aviation industry.
