A Vietnamese coastguard plane crashed on Thursday near Bach Long Vi Island in the northern city of Hai Phong while searching for the co-pilot of the missing Su-30MK2 fighter jet.

The CASA C212 plane carrying nine people went missing 44 nautical miles South-West of the Bach Long Vi Island at 12.30 on June 16.

 Pilot of the CASA C212 plane, Colonel Le Kiem Toan, Commander of Vietnam's 918 Air Brigade

A source told DTiNews that the plane disappeared from the radar just after sending notification that it was descending in order to more closely pass objects the crew believed were the buoys of the still missing co-pilot of the crashed Su-30 MK2.

A command post was set up on June 16 evening by Lieutenant General Phan Van Giang, Deputy Minister of Defence who will direct the rescue work.

Coastguards, border guards, navy, air force and fishermen have been mobilised to search for the two aircraft and the crew throughout the night.

An anonymous official from the Ministry of Defence's rescue team told DTiNews early this morning, June 17 that they have arrived in the area of the CASA C212 plane crash and found a plane seat and some personal belongings of the crew.