4 tourists feared dead after chopper crash that one family 'swerved last-minute'

06 April 2023 , 10:24

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Mangled steel was fished out of the sea in Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site (Image: Quang Ninh Border Guard)

The mangled and charred wreckage of a VIP helicopter flight has been dragged from the sea after a horror chopper crash in Vietnam's Ha Long Bay left at least four people dead.

An enormous search started this morning as 600 people scour the waters off the coast of the tourist town for the missing fifth victim and the black box - which carries hours of cockpit conversation and flight data.

Divers continue to search underwater close to the crash site after successfully recovering the body and tail of the chopper.

Just one of the victims has been identified, pilot Colonel Chu Quang Minh, 59. His body and the remains of the three other victims have been taken to a funeral home in Ha Long City.

A massive emergency response, made up of Border Guard, Coast Guard, Navy divers, has been sent to the area. Thirty-one vehicles have also been deployed, according to state sources.

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600 people were involved in the search (Quang Ninh Border Guard)

The Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang was part of a government group in nearby Hai Phong who boarded a ship to direct the search and rescue work.

The rescue team was told to use all necessary means to track down the remaining missing victims, according to Vietnamese state-run media.

Tuoi Tre reported that a family narrowly escaped a near certain death after deciding to swerve the helicopter trip because their baby was running a fever.

A young family decided not to go on the trip after their baby became ill (Quang Ninh Border Guard)

The government is said to be supporting the victims financially with a payment of 20 million Vietnamese Dong, which is just $850 (£682).

Quang Ninh Province, in which Ha Long is situated, has also offered to pay the costs of moving the victims from Da Nang. They are also paying for their expenses while waiting for news of the search.

Local politician Nguyen Hoai Son said the victims were among group of seven who had travelled from Da Nang in central Vietnam up to Ha Long in the north, close to Ha Noi.

The tourists were said to be from Da Nang, another part of Vietnam (Quang Ninh Border Guard)

Three of the individuals were saved after deciding not to fly due to the sick baby.

The helicopter was a Bell-505 helicopter, which is the jewel in the crown of the Northern Vietnam Helicopter Company - a state run tourist aviation service.

The Ministry of National Defence is set to investigate the circumstances of the crash and has already said it will review the flight procedures, fix any issues in order to ensure future flight safety.

Ryan Fahey