Debris found from rescue plane which crashed while looking for missing pilot

Wreckage has been recovered from a Vietnamese search plane which went missing with nine people on board while looking for a pilot from a crashed fighter jet. The debris, including chunks bearing the logo of the search plane, a tire, a seat and personal belongings of crew members, were discovered about 25 miles (40km) southeast of Bach Long Vi island. The plane lost contact with command center on Thursday afternoon. Bad weather is being blamed for bringing down the aircraft, which was helping in the search for the pilot from a Sukhoi Su-30 MK2 jet fighter that crashed during a training flight on Tuesday.

My son and I were fishing in our boat when we heard a whirr and saw an aircraft and then another crashing into the sea

Fisherman Nguyen Phung saw the fighter jet come down

The fighter jet crashed near the maritime border with China. One other pilot was rescued by a fishing boat on Wednesday. More than 1,500 personnel have been dispatched to find his missing colleague, while China has sent a rescue boat and two coastguard boats to assist with the search for the missing rescue plane. Further rescue flights were reportedly cancelled on Friday because of the weather.

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