VietNamNet Bridge - A helicopter on a training mission crashed in Hanoi’s outlying district of Thach That this morning, killing 18 soldiers and seriously injuring three others.

The incident occurred at around 7:45am in Hamlet No.11 of Thach Hoa commune shortly after the helicopter took off from Hoa Lac airport.

The Russian-built Mi-171 was said to lose altitude and hit the ground before exploding near a local market. The blaze was put out at around 08.30.

On board the helicopter were 21 soldiers who were undertaking a parachute training mission.

Lieut. Gen. Vo Van Tuan, deputy chief of General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, said relevant agencies launched an inquiry into the cause of the tragedy.

Initial investigations showed the crash was caused by technical failure.

Death toll has risen to 18. Authorities earlier put it at 16.

Sixteen soldiers were confirmed dead at the scene and five others were injured and admitted to military hospitals. However, two more soldiers died in hospitals, and the other three were in critical condition.

Nguyen Manh Hong, Vice Chairman of the Thach That District People's Committee, said emergency response fire fighting and medical teams are en route to the scene.

The site was cordoned off for investigation.

Some photos of the incident:


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 Ambulances took victims to the 105 hospital.

 

 

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The road to the scene is blocked.

 

 

 

 

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