What happened
During a scheduled supply operation in the vicinity of Bình Thüỵ, an unidentified aircraft sustained significant damage after being hit by a mortar shell. The projectile impacted the aircraft's fuel tank, causing immediate structural and operational compromise.
In response to the damage, the crew initiated an emergency descent to find a suitable landing site. The aircraft subsequently crash-landed in a nearby rice paddy field. While the impact resulted in the aircraft being damaged beyond repair, both members of the crew survived the incident and were successfully rescued from the wreckage.
Findings
Official investigations concluded that the primary cause of the accident was the impact of enemy fire, specifically a mortar shell, which compromised the integrity of the fuel system.