On November 22, the Department of Propaganda and Training (Ministry of National Defense) informed that the President has just issued Decision No. 1267/QD-CTN dated November 21, 2024 on awarding the Fatherland Protection Medal.
Accordingly, the President awarded the Third Class Fatherland Protection Medal to Colonel Nguyen Van Son (Commander of Regiment 940, Air Force Officer School, Air Defense - Air Force Service, Ministry of National Defense) and Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Hong Quan (Flight Commander, Regiment 940, Air Force Officer School, Air Defense - Air Force Service, Ministry of National Defense).
The decision was given to these two pilots because of "Outstanding achievements in performing combat flight training missions, contributing to the cause of building socialism and defending the Fatherland".
Previously, on November 6, Air Force Regiment 940, Air Force Officer School, Air Defense - Air Force organized a daily training flight at Phu Cat airport, with Yak-130 aircraft (registration number 210D).
The plane flew exercise 208, long-distance flight - no-go zone - through clouds in complex meteorological conditions, with Colonel Nguyen Van Son flying in the front cabin and Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Hong Quan flying in the back cabin.
The plane took off at 9:55 a.m., and at 10:38 a.m., when the flight ended and it was time to land, the pilot reported that the plane's landing gear could not be released. At the same time, he took emergency measures to handle the situation, but still failed.
The pilot reported to the flight commander and was allowed to parachute. The two pilots parachuted at 10:51 at the TB2 Shooting Range (Tay Son District, Binh Dinh Province).
Authorities later found the two pilots on the evening of November 6, 10 hours after the incident.
