The search team disappeared from radar at 12:30 pm on Thursday, 44 nautical miles southwest of Bach Long Vi Island off the northern city of Haiphong.
Deputy Minister of Defence, Lieutenant General Phan Van Giang said the Ministry of Defence has expanded the area of search, and dispatched more personnel and equipment to find the missing crew.
The area of search will be expanded about 60 nautical miles to the west and southwest of Bach Long Vi Island, to search for the missing crews of the Su30 MK2 and Casa212 military aircraft accidents. Naval engineers and professional divers will also join the search.
About 40 boats of the border guards have been looking for the missing crews of Casa 212 since Thursday night. Debris of the aircraft was found but people still hold out hope for the survival of the pilots.
