Tourism Helicopter Crash Kills Three Near Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay
QUANG NINH, VIETNAM - MAY 31: Junk boats carry tourists touring Ha Long Bay, after the Vietnamese government eased the lockdown following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, on May 31, 2020 in Ha Long, Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam. Though some restrictions remain in place, Vietnam has lifted the ban on domestic travel, certain entertainment facilities and non-essential businesses to revive its economy. As of May 31, Vietnam has confirmed 328 cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19 ) with no deaths in the country, 279 fully recovered and no new case caused by community transmission for 46 days. (Photo by Linh Pham/Getty Images)
, Photographer: Linh Pham/Getty Images AsiaPac
Mai Ngoc Chau, Bloomberg News
(Bloomberg) -- Three people on board a sightseeing helicopter died after the aircraft crashed near the UNESCO World Heritage Site Ha Long Bay in Northern Vietnam Wednesday afternoon, according to a statement on the government’s website.
The pilot and two Vietnamese tourists were killed, according to the statement. Two other passengers are missing.
The Textron Inc. Bell 505 aircraft lost contact with air traffic control about 10 minutes after taking off from Tuan Chau Island in northern Ha Long City, the government said.
More than 200 people, 30 ships and boats joined search-and-rescue efforts, the government of Quang Ninh province said in a Thursday morning statement.
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