On November 4th, at Nhon Ly beach area, Quy Nhon Dong ward, Gia Lai province, the Ministry of Construction chaired and coordinated with the People's Committee of Gia Lai province to organize the 2025 Aviation Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX 2025). Deputy Minister of Construction Le Anh Tuan - Head of the Steering Committee for the 2025 Aviation Search and Rescue Exercise participated in directing the exercise.
Deputy Minister of Construction Le Anh Tuan - Head of the Steering Committee for the 2025 Aviation Search and Rescue Exercise spoke at the drill.
Speaking at the drill, Deputy Minister of Construction Lê Anh Tuấn, Head of the Steering Committee for the 2025 Aviation Search and Rescue Exercise stated that aviation search and rescue is a specialized task involving multiple sectors and forces, and holds particularly important significance in ensuring flight safety and national security.
He emphasized that the SAREX 2025 is an opportunity to assess and evaluate the command, coordination, and response capabilities of the units involved, while also drawing practical lessons to improve coordination mechanisms and enhance the operational capacity of participating forces.
Units participating in the drill.
On behalf of the Exercise Command Board, Mr. Ho Minh Tan - Deputy Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, Head of the 2025 Aviation Search and Rescue Exercise Command Board reported a summary of the scenario, objectives and main contents of the drill, and officially declared opening command.
Mr. Ho Minh Tan affirmed: "Organizing regular, comprehensive-scale drills is an essential requirement to improve the capacity to perform tasks of the national aviation search and rescue system, contributing to ensuring absolute safety for civil aviation activities in Vietnam."
Vehicles participating in the drill.
According to the simulation scenario of the exercise, flight DT2025/B737 was on its way from Guangzhou to Singapore.
While flying along airway L642, 25 nautical miles from reporting point VEPAM at FL310, the flight crew detected smoke in the cockpit and requested permission to descend and divert for an emergency landing at Phu Cat Airport.
When the aircraft was 45 nautical miles from the airport, it unexpectedly lost surveillance signals and two-way communication with air traffic control. Immediately, the aviation search and rescue system was activated, and the forces promptly deployed response plans and carried out search and rescue operations for the distressed aircraft.
The drill involved more than 400 participants from civil aviation, maritime, defense forces, and local communities. The equipment and vehicles mobilized included specialized search and rescue helicopters of the Air Defense–Air Force Service; rescue vessels and boats from the Border Guard, the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center, the Quy Nhơn Maritime Administration, as well as fishing boats of local fishermen; command vehicles, rescue vehicles, and modern aviation-specialized equipment.
Forces participating in the drill.
The drill successfully completed all planned components, ensuring proper procedures and absolute safety. The participating forces demonstrated smooth coordination, flexible and accurate handling of situations, and strict compliance with the guidelines and standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Through the drill, the participating units had the opportunity to review, supplement, and perfect regulations and coordination plans, while also improving their situational response skills and practical command capabilities.
At the same time, the drill helped widely propagate and raise awareness among organizations, units, and local residents about the realities of search and rescue activities. Thereby, enhancing the responsibility and obligations of individuals and organizations in aviation search and rescue operations to closely coordination and combine all resources so that civil aviation search and rescue efforts can be implemented quickly, promptly and effectively.