In the early hours of June 29, a special flight carrying 124 rescue personnel, 10 search dogs and 25 tonnes of emergency equipment and humanitarian supplies departed for Venezuela to support search-and-rescue operations following the country's devastating earthquake.

At 12:45 a.m. on June 29, Vietnam Airlines flight VN66 took off from Noi Bai International Airport, transporting Vietnam's search-and-rescue forces and humanitarian aid to Venezuela to assist recovery efforts after the recent earthquake.

The mission is being operated with a wide-body Airbus A350 aircraft. After a technical stop at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport in France, the flight will continue to Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas, where it is scheduled to arrive at 12:10 p.m. on June 29, local time.

The aircraft is carrying 124 officers and personnel from the Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of Public Security, together with 10 trained search dogs and approximately 25 tonnes of specialised rescue equipment, machinery, supplies and humanitarian relief materials for operations in Venezuela.

To support the special mission, Vietnam Airlines mobilised its ground operations team and a flight crew of 23, including six pilots, 10 cabin crew members, three engineers, one operations specialist and three ground service staff. The airline also expedited logistical preparations and flight clearance procedures to ensure the aircraft departed on schedule.

According to Vietnam Airlines, assigning aircraft and operational resources to the humanitarian mission may require temporary adjustments to schedules on some routes over the coming days, including changes to departure times orcraft types.

The airline said it will proactively provide updated information, offer timely assistance to passengers and ensure all passenger rights are protected in accordance with regulations. It also expressed appreciation for passengers' understanding should any operational changes become necessary.

Vu Diep