Body of missing Su-22 pilot found

The body of Deputy Commander of Regiment 937 Le Van Nghia was recovered along with parts of the fallen Su-22 jet, number 5857, in the waters off Phu Quy Island in the south central province of Binh Thuan, where the plane reportedly crashed on April 16.

Another pilot, Nguyen Anh Tu, and Su-22 jet number 5863 are still missing. Search efforts to locate them are still ongoing.

The two USSR-made Sukhoi Su-22 jets of Air Division 370 had lost contact, a few hours after they took off from Thanh Son Military Airport in Binh Thuan for a training session.

Officials suspected the planes had crashed into the sea.

The national defence ministry deployed forces to conduct an urgent search operation immediately, but the efforts were hampered by the huge waves in the sea for days.