Delegations pay homage to Major Trần Ngọc Duy at the funeral held on Wednesday. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The funeral of Major Trần Ngọc Duy who sacrificed in a military training aircraft crash on Tuesday in northern Yên Bái Province was held according to military rites at Yên Bái General Hospital’s funeral hall on Wednesday.

Delegations of the Ministry of Defence, the Air Defence-Air Force, Air Force Divisions, and the provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Yên Bái Province, together with his relatives, comrades and residents all paid homage to the martyr and give their condolences to his family.

The memorial service was held at 12am, and the cremation of the martyr was carried out at Thái Nguyên City’s crematorium.

Representative of the Ministry of Defence gives condolences to the martyr's family. — VNA/VNS Photo

Major Duy, 31, was born in Tân Phong Commune, Vũ Thư District in northern Thái Bình Province.

He joined the army in September 2010 and was trained as a military aircraft officer at the Air Force Officer School.

Duy was the Deputy Squadron Leader, Chief of Staff of Squadron 1 of Air Force Regiment 921, Division 371 of the Air and Air Defence Force.

During the course of the mission, Duy had accumulated a total of 725 hours and 25 minutes of flight time.

On January 31, Duy piloted a SU22 in a training session. At 12:27pm, while landing, the aircraft encountered a problem.

The pilot was ordered to parachute, but he tried to fix the problem instead. The aircraft eventually crashed and he died.

The Ministry of Defence has directed the Air Defence - Air Force Service and relevant agencies to launch an investigation into the cause of the accident and support the bereaved.

The Hồ Chí Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) Central Committee on Wednesday decided to present the “Brave Youth” Badge posthumously to Duy.

The badge is a noble title granted by the HCYU Central Committee for Vietnamese youth union members, youths and children who perform brave acts or make outstanding achievements in security, national defence and social order and safety; prevent negative phenomena and social evils; and bravely protect and save others and the property of the people and the State in urgent situations.

The Ministry of Defence also decided to promote Duy's rank from Captain to Major Colonel.  VNS