Chinese supplier to help investigate Myanmar military aircraft accident

A Y8F200W tactical transport aircraft arrives at Mingaladon Airport in Yangon for delivery to the Myanmar Air Force on March 19, 2016. [File photo: huanqiu.com]

The Chinese supplier of a Myanmar military aircraft which crashed on Wednesday is to assist in the accident investigation.

The tactical transport aircraft suddenly lost contact with the ground during a flight from Myeik to Yangon on Wednesday afternoon. There were 122 passengers on board, including 108 military personnel and their family members, plus 14 crew members.

Wreckage from the plane and 29 bodies were located in the sea on Thursday, according to the Myanmar Defence Services Office.

In a statement, the China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC) said it had been told by the Myanmar Air Force that a Y8F200W (No.5820) crashed at sea on Wednesday. The aircraft was delivered to the Myanmar Air Force by CATIC in March 2016.

Military sources suggested the tragedy might have been due to poor weather conditions, but the cause will need to be confirmed once the black box flight recorder is found.

The search for wreckage and survivors is continuing, with the mobilization of nine naval vessels, five aircraft and two helicopters from the Air Force as well as local vessels.