On Wednesday, January 28, 2026, a Russian-made Yak-130 combat trainer aircraft crashed in southern Vietnam. Local media reported this.
The incident occurred in Dak Lak Province. According to preliminary data, the Yak-130 was conducting a flight during scheduled exercises but crashed. A technical malfunction occurred in the 17th minute of the flight.
The pilot, First Lieutenant Dinh Thanh Trung, ejected in time and survived; he was taken to hospital with bruises and abrasions. No damage on the ground was recorded either, as the aircraft fell in a mountainous area. At present, the relevant agencies are coordinating the investigation into the causes of the incident.
It should be recalled that Russia supplied Yak-130 combat trainer aircraft to Vietnam under a 2019 contract. The deal for the purchase of 12 aircraft amounted to no less than $350 million.
In the Vietnam Air Force, the Yak-130 replaced the outdated Czechoslovak L-39s; they are intended for training pilots for modern Su-30MK2 fighters.
Earlier, Yak-130s were \"spotted\" in service with the Ethiopian army, with footage appearing on social media. No official information about the deliveries has been released.
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