Teammates and relatives tearfully bid farewell to two pilots who died in a plane crash in Nghe An

Tien Hung• DNUM_CIZAHZCABI 10:31

(Baonghean.vn) - Pilot Nam's daughter was still young and did not understand what happened. During the funeral, she kept asking "why is everyone crying?".

On the morning of July 28, the Air Defense - Air Force Command held a memorial service for two pilots Khuat Manh Tri and Pham Giang Nam who died while performing a flight training mission at noon on July 26. From 6am, hundreds of relatives and teammates of the two pilots were present at the Funeral Home of Military Hospital 4 to see them off. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and many leaders of the Party, State, ministries and branches sent wreaths. Photo: Tien Hung

The delegation of Nghe An province led by comrade Nguyen Xuan Son - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council came to pay their respects and offer incense to the two pilots. Also accompanying the delegation was comrade Cao Thi Hien - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council. Photo: Tien Hung

Many people in Vinh city lined up to pay their respects to the two pilots. Photo: Tien Hung

The coffins of the two pilots at the funeral home. On July 27, the Prime Minister signed Decision 919/QD-TTg to award the "Fatherland's Gratitude" Certificate to Colonel Pham Giang Nam (46 years old), originally from Thai Giang commune, Thai Thuy district, Thai Binh province, and Lieutenant Colonel Khuat Manh Tri (40 years old), originally from Le Loi ward, Son Tay town, Hanoi city. Photo: Tien Hung

Comrades bid farewell to the two pilots. Before their death, Lieutenant Colonel Khuat Manh Tri was Deputy Regiment Commander and Chief of Staff, while Colonel Pham Giang Nam was Chief of Flight Safety of Regiment 921. Photo: Tien Hung

Comrades hugged Lieutenant Colonel Khuat Manh Tri's mother tightly. During the funeral, she cried next to her son's coffin. Photo: Tien Hung

The father's teammates kissed the cheek and encouraged the son of Lieutenant Colonel Khuat Manh Tri. The children of these two pilots are still young. Some of them did not even understand what was happening, and throughout the funeral, they kept asking their father's teammates "why is everyone crying"!.. Photo: Tien Hung

The funeral was held from 7am to 9am. The coffin of Lieutenant Colonel Khuat Manh Tri was taken to Hanoi by car. Photo: Tien Hung

Pilot Tri's mother could not believe that her son would never return. The bodies of the two pilots will then be cremated at the Hoan Vu Crematorium, Van Dien, Hanoi and buried in their hometown. Photo: Tien Hung

Two pilots returned to their homeland in the arms of their relatives and comrades. Photo: Tien Hung

Both pilots Khuat Manh Tri and Pham Giang Nam were experienced with over 1,000 accumulated flight hours. "This loss and grief is a great loss for the officers and soldiers of the Air Defense and Air Force in general, the 371st Division and the pilots in particular...", Lieutenant General Le Huy Vinh - Commander of the Air Defense - Air Force wrote in the condolence book. Photo: Tien Hung

Leaders of Nghe An province together carried the coffin of Colonel Pham Giang Nam to the car to Hanoi for cremation. Photo: Tien Hung

Colonel Nam's father was helped out to the car by his son's comrades. Photo: Tien Hung

Not only teammates and relatives, many friends of the two pilots were also present in Nghe An to see them off. "Since 2pm yesterday, we have gathered in Hanoi to come here to see our friend off. Every time we go back to our hometown, we see each other, but now....", Ms. Ta Bich Van, a classmate of Lieutenant Colonel Khuat Manh Tri, choked up.

Previously, at 11:16 a.m. on July 26, the Su-22 aircraft, serial number 8551 of the 921st Air Force Regiment (371st Division, Air Defense - Air Force Service), was on a training flight. However, at 11:35 a.m., contact was lost. The aircraft was later determined to have crashed in the Dua village area (Nghia Yen commune, Nghia Dan district, Nghe An). The accident killed two pilots. Photo: Tien Hung