What happened
The incident involved a military aircraft conducting a supply mission that included transporting paratroopers. During the operation, the plane was maintaining a low altitude when it came under attack. The airframe sustained damage from enemy fire, which caused the vehicle to lose control and crash into a wooded area in the vicinity of Cao Bằng.
The impact resulted in significant loss of life among the personnel on board. Out of the total number of occupants, 15 individuals were killed. Only one person survived the accident. Among those who perished was a high-ranking officer serving as the Deputy Chief of Staff for French forces in Indochina. The sole survivor was an adjutant who escaped the fatal consequences of the crash.
Findings
Official investigations concluded that the primary cause of the accident was the aircraft being shot down by hostile fire during its low-level flight phase.