Bell helicopters by the US-based Bell Corporation were purchased by the Việt Nam Helicopter Corporation for tourism services in Hạ Long Bay. — Photo courtesy of the US Embassy in Việt Nam

HÀ NỘI — Two people have died and three others are missing after a helicopter crashed in the Hạ Long Bay area on Wednesday.

The Ministry of Defence said in a statement late today that those onboard are tourists, and the helicopter was being piloted by Colonel Chu Quang Minh.

The aircraft took off at 4:56pm from Tuần Châu Island, Quảng Ninh Province, but lost contact with air traffic control at 5:15pm.

The helicopter is a Bell-505 model, with license plate VN-8650, is owned by the Northern Việt Nam Helicopter Company under the Việt Nam Helicopter Corporation (Army Corps 18).

It is understood the four tourists on board were all Vietnamese nationals.

Immediately after the helicopter lost contact, its owners coordinated with the Border Guard and local military forces to begin search and rescue efforts.

At 7:18pm, rescuers found two bodies and debris believed to be from the helicopter at the edge of the shore, at coordinates 20°51'51.2''N-107°01'13.4''EE.

Rescuers are still actively searching for the missing passengers. — VNS

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_{The coordinates of the location where the two bodies and debris of the helicopter was found.}