Captain Tran Ngoc Duy, 31, flying the aircraft died during a training session at noon on Tuesday, according to the State military media outlet.

The aircraft was landing at an airbase in Yen Bai when it crashed, said the outlet, adding the pilot was ordered to parachute but he tried to save the plane and died afterwards.

The Ministry of Defense has directed the Air Defense - Air Force Service and relevant agencies to launch an investigation into the cause of the accident and support the bereaved.