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2nd LD Wriththru: Pilots missing after two Su-22 fighter jets collide in central Vietnam

Xinhua, April 16, 2015 Adjust font size:

Two Su-22 fighter jets crashed in Vietnam's central Binh Thuan province after a mid-air collision on Thursday.

The two aircraft from Air Division 370 collided during a training mission near Phu Quy island, the VNExpress online newspaper reported. The two pilots ejected but still remained missing.

"The two fighter jets lost contact with the ground at around 10: 35 a.m. local time (0335 GMT) over the sea of central Binh Thuan province," the report quoted Major General Do Minh Tuan, deputy commander of the Air Defense Force, as saying.

The two pilots were still missing despite search efforts by rescuers from the Air Defense Force and the border guards, according to the VNExpress.

"Rescue forces found an auxiliary tank and a floating oil spot near the position where the planes lost contact," Major General Do Minh Tuan said.

According to Ta Minh Nhat, deputy chairman of Phu Quy island district people's committee, the search and rescue work was temporarily suspended Thursday night but will resume on Friday.

The Soviet-made Su-22 jets were put into service in the 1970s. Endi