Incident Overview
During a radio intelligence mission over Laos, a cruising aircraft at an altitude of 9,500 feet was hit by enemy fire. The left engine subsequently caught fire, prompting the crew to take immediate action. They managed to leave the combat zone and return to South Vietnam before executing an emergency landing at the special forces camp of Ben Het.
Landing and Aftermath
The aircraft crash-landed at Ben Het and was destroyed in the process. Despite the severity of the landing, all six crew members aboard escaped uninjured. The crew's ability to evacuate safely was notable given the damage sustained from enemy fire and the emergency landing.
Probable Cause
Official findings attribute the incident to enemy fire, which led to the aircraft being shot down.