Hanoi - Vientiane

On September 1, 1979 at 12:00 AM, Hanoi - Vientiane experienced a crash involving Antonov AN-26, operated by Lao Aviation, with the event recorded near Ban Mai Vientiane Province.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a plain, valley crash site.

74 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 74 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 6, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 68, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is weather. The airplane was completing a flight from Hanoi to Vientiane, carrying 62 girl students and six accompanents coming back from Soviet Union. On approach to Vientiane-Wattay Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and low visibility due to thunderstorm activity. The captain completed several circuits in the area but was unable to locate the airport. As the airplane was short of fuel, the crew decided to attempt a belly landing in an open field located in Ban Mai, about 10 km west of Wattay Airport. All 74 occupants were evacuated while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Aircraft reference details include registration RDPL-34037, MSN 2506, year of manufacture 1974.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 18.9534°, 102.4559°.