{"id":19638,"date":"2026-09-02T07:00:53","date_gmt":"2026-09-02T13:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thovanyenson.com\/?p=19638"},"modified":"2026-09-02T10:50:51","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T16:50:51","slug":"phi-vu-cuoi-cung-the-final-flight-mission","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thovanyenson.com\/?p=19638","title":{"rendered":"Phi V\u1ee5 Cu\u1ed1i C\u00f9ng – The final flight mission"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n\n

H\u01a1n n\u1eeda th\u1ebf k\u1ef7 \u0111\u00e3 tr\u00f4i qua.<\/p>\n

M\u1ed7i l\u1ea7n c\u1ea7m tr\u00ean tay t\u1edd Phi V\u1ee5 L\u1ec7nh cu\u1ed1i c\u00f9ng \u0111\u00e3 \u00faa nh\u00e0u theo n\u0103m th\u00e1ng, l\u00f2ng t\u00f4i v\u1eabn b\u1ed3i h\u1ed3i nh\u01b0 m\u1edbi h\u00f4m qua. T\u1edd gi\u1ea5y photocopy m\u1ecfng manh \u1ea5y \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c t\u00f4i \u00e9p plastic t\u1eeb nhi\u1ec1u n\u0103m tr\u01b0\u1edbc \u0111\u1ec3 l\u01b0u gi\u1eef nh\u01b0 m\u1ed9t k\u1ef7 v\u1eadt. Th\u1eddi gian \u0111\u00e3 l\u00e0m n\u00f3 ng\u1ea3 v\u00e0ng, nh\u01b0ng kh\u00f4ng th\u1ec3 l\u00e0m phai m\u1edd nh\u1eefng k\u00fd \u1ee9c m\u00e0 n\u00f3 mang theo.<\/p>\n

\"PVL<\/a><\/center><\/p>\n

Ch\u1ec9 c\u1ea7n nh\u00ecn th\u1ea5y t\u1edd Phi V\u1ee5 L\u1ec7nh \u1ea5y, m\u1ecdi chuy\u1ec7n c\u1ee7a nh\u1eefng ng\u00e0y cu\u1ed1i th\u00e1ng T\u01b0 n\u0103m 1975 l\u1ea1i hi\u1ec7n v\u1ec1 nguy\u00ean v\u1eb9n. Khu\u00f4n m\u1eb7t c\u1ee7a nh\u1eefng ng\u01b0\u1eddi b\u1ea1n bay. Ti\u1ebfng c\u01b0\u1eddi trong ph\u00f2ng h\u00e0nh qu\u00e2n. Ti\u1ebfng \u0111\u1ed9ng c\u01a1 quen thu\u1ed9c c\u1ee7a nh\u1eefng chi\u1ebfc Tinh Long gi\u1eefa m\u00e0n \u0111\u00eam. R\u1ed3i nh\u1eefng m\u1ea5t m\u00e1t, chia ly v\u00e0 \u0111au \u0111\u1edbn c\u1ee7a ng\u00e0y \u0111\u1ea5t n\u01b0\u1edbc \u0111\u1ed5i thay.<\/p>\n

N\u0103m n\u00e0o c\u0169ng v\u1eady, c\u1ee9 \u0111\u1ebfn th\u00e1ng T\u01b0 l\u00e0 k\u00fd \u1ee9c l\u1ea1i tr\u1edf v\u1ec1.<\/p>\n

\u0110\u00e2y kh\u00f4ng ph\u1ea3i l\u00e0 m\u1ed9t b\u00e0i vi\u1ebft v\u1ec1 ch\u00ednh tr\u1ecb. C\u0169ng kh\u00f4ng nh\u1eb1m ph\u00e1n x\u00e9t b\u1ea5t c\u1ee9 ai. \u0110\u00e2y ch\u1ec9 l\u00e0 c\u00e2u chuy\u1ec7n c\u1ee7a m\u1ed9t ng\u01b0\u1eddi phi c\u00f4ng may m\u1eafn c\u00f2n s\u1ed1ng \u0111\u1ec3 k\u1ec3 l\u1ea1i nh\u1eefng g\u00ec m\u00ecnh \u0111\u00e3 ch\u1ee9ng ki\u1ebfn trong nh\u1eefng gi\u1edd ph\u00fat cu\u1ed1i c\u00f9ng c\u1ee7a Vi\u1ec7t Nam C\u1ed9ng H\u00f2a, nh\u01b0 m\u1ed9t l\u1eddi t\u01b0\u1edfng nh\u1edb \u0111\u1ebfn nh\u1eefng chi\u1ebfn h\u1eefu \u0111\u00e3 v\u0129nh vi\u1ec5n bay cao tr\u00ean v\u00f9ng tr\u1eddi mi\u00ean vi\u1ec5n.
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* * *<\/center><\/p>\n

Chi\u1ec1u ng\u00e0y 28 th\u00e1ng 4 n\u0103m 1975, t\u00f4i c\u00f3 t\u00ean trong Phi V\u1ee5 L\u1ec7nh c\u1ee7a c\u00e1c phi v\u1ee5 Tinh Long \u0111\u00eam \u0111\u00f3. Nh\u1eefng ng\u00e0y \u1ea5y, chi\u1ebfn s\u1ef1 di\u1ec5n bi\u1ebfn t\u1eebng gi\u1edd. C\u00e1c t\u1ec9nh l\u1ea7n l\u01b0\u1ee3t th\u1ea5t th\u1ee7. Tin t\u1ee9c t\u1eeb c\u00e1c m\u1eb7t tr\u1eadn d\u1ed3n d\u1eadp b\u00e1o v\u1ec1 khi\u1ebfn ai c\u0169ng hi\u1ec3u r\u1eb1ng, S\u00e0i G\u00f2n \u0111ang \u0111\u1ee9ng tr\u01b0\u1edbc th\u1eddi kh\u1eafc sinh t\u1eed. Th\u1ebf nh\u01b0ng, \u0111\u1ed1i v\u1edbi nh\u1eefng ng\u01b0\u1eddi l\u00ednh phi h\u00e0nh nh\u01b0 ch\u00fang t\u00f4i, khi \u0111\u00e3 c\u00f3 t\u00ean trong Phi V\u1ee5 L\u1ec7nh th\u00ec m\u1ecdi suy ngh\u0129 kh\u00e1c \u0111\u1ec1u ph\u1ea3i g\u00e1c l\u1ea1i. Vi\u1ec7c duy nh\u1ea5t c\u1ea7n quan t\u00e2m l\u00e0 chu\u1ea9n b\u1ecb cho phi v\u1ee5.<\/p>\n

Phi \u0111o\u00e0n Tinh Long s\u1eed d\u1ee5ng phi c\u01a1 AC-119K Stinger \u0111\u1ec3 y\u1ec3m tr\u1ee3 h\u1ecfa l\u1ef1c cho qu\u00e2n b\u1ea1n. H\u1eb1ng \u0111\u00eam, ch\u00fang t\u00f4i c\u00f3 6 phi v\u1ee5 t\u00e1c chi\u1ebfn v\u00e0 2 phi v\u1ee5 \u1ee9ng chi\u1ebfn. M\u1ed7i Phi H\u00e0nh \u0110o\u00e0n c\u00f3 10 ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u2013 5 s\u0129 quan (Tr\u01b0\u1edfng Phi C\u01a1, Hoa Ti\u00eau ph\u00f3, \u0110i\u1ec1u h\u00e0nh vi\u00ean, IR, NOS) v\u00e0 5 h\u1ea1 s\u0129 quan (K\u1ef9 s\u01b0 Phi h\u00e0nh, 3 x\u1ea1 th\u1ee7, \u00c1p t\u1ea3i\/Tr\u00e1i s\u00e1ng). M\u1ed7i phi v\u1ee5 bao v\u00f9ng 2 ti\u1ebfng – kh\u00f4ng k\u1ec3 th\u1eddi gian c\u1ea5t c\u00e1nh \u0111\u1ebfn chi\u1ebfn tr\u01b0\u1eddng v\u00e0 r\u1eddi v\u00f9ng tr\u00e1ch nhi\u1ec7m v\u1ec1 \u0111\u00e1p. C\u1ee9 th\u1ebf h\u1ebft phi v\u1ee5 n\u1ea7y \u0111\u1ebfn phi v\u1ee5 kh\u00e1c; h\u1ebft ng\u00e0y n\u1ea7y \u0111\u1ebfn ng\u00e0y kh\u00e1c b\u1eaft \u0111\u1ea7u t\u1eeb 6 gi\u1edd chi\u1ec1u cho \u0111\u1ebfn 6 gi\u1edd s\u00e1ng. Hai phi v\u1ee5 \u1ee9ng chi\u1ebfn ch\u1ec9 bay khi chi\u1ebfn tr\u01b0\u1eddng c\u1ea7n \u0111i\u1ec1u \u0111\u1ed9ng.<\/p>\n

Chi\u1ec1u h\u00f4m \u1ea5y c\u0169ng b\u1eaft \u0111\u1ea7u nh\u01b0 bao bu\u1ed5i chi\u1ec1u kh\u00e1c. Nh\u00e2n vi\u00ean phi h\u00e0nh \u0111\u1ebfn phi \u0111o\u00e0n s\u1edbm \u0111\u1ec3 nh\u1eadn Phi V\u1ee5 L\u1ec7nh. \u0110\u1ebfn gi\u1edd bay, xe qu\u00e2n xa \u0111\u01b0a ra phi h\u00e0nh \u0111o\u00e0n ra b\u00e3i \u0111\u1eadu \u0111\u1ee7 s\u1edbm \u0111\u1ec3 l\u00e0m c\u00f4ng vi\u1ec7c ti\u1ec1n phi c\u1ea7n thi\u1ebft tr\u01b0\u1edbc khi l\u00ean \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng. <\/p>\n

M\u1ecdi c\u00f4ng vi\u1ec7c di\u1ec5n ra theo \u0111\u00fang quy tr\u00ecnh quen thu\u1ed9c \u0111\u00e3 l\u1eb7p \u0111i l\u1eb7p l\u1ea1i su\u1ed1t nhi\u1ec1u n\u0103m. \u0110\u00e2u c\u00f3 ai ng\u1edd \u0111\u00f3 l\u1ea1i l\u00e0 Phi V\u1ee5 cu\u1ed1i c\u00f9ng c\u1ee7a \u0111\u1eddi qu\u00e2n ng\u0169. Kh\u00f4ng ai ng\u1edd ch\u1ec9 h\u01a1n hai m\u01b0\u01a1i b\u1ed1n gi\u1edd sau, m\u1ecdi th\u1ee9 s\u1ebd v\u0129nh vi\u1ec5n \u0111\u1ed5i thay. <\/p>\n

\u0110\u00eam h\u00f4m \u1ea5y, ch\u00fang t\u00f4i – Tinh Long 02 – c\u1ea5t c\u00e1nh l\u00e0m nhi\u1ec7m v\u1ee5 nh\u01b0 th\u01b0\u1eddng l\u1ec7. Nh\u01b0ng t\u00ecnh h\u00ecnh d\u01b0\u1edbi m\u1eb7t \u0111\u1ea5t \u0111\u00e3 ho\u00e0n to\u00e0n kh\u00e1c tr\u01b0\u1edbc.<\/p>\n

H\u1ecfa l\u1ef1c ph\u00f2ng kh\u00f4ng c\u1ee7a \u0111\u1ecbch d\u00e0y \u0111\u1eb7c h\u01a1n bao gi\u1edd h\u1ebft. T\u1ea5t c\u1ea3 \u0111\u00e8n \u0111\u00f3m b\u00ecnh th\u01b0\u1eddng b\u00ean ngo\u00e0i c\u1ee7a phi c\u01a1 \u0111\u1ec1u t\u1eaft h\u1ebft. 10 nh\u00e2n vi\u00ean phi h\u00e0nh \u0111o\u00e0n ai c\u0169ng c\u0103ng m\u1eaft canh ch\u1eebng h\u1ecfa ti\u1ec5n SA-7 v\u00e0 ph\u00f2ng kh\u00f4ng c\u1ee7a \u0111\u1ed1i ph\u01b0\u01a1ng. M\u1ed7i l\u1ea7n ch\u00fang t\u00f4i c\u1ed1 nh\u1eadp tr\u1eadn \u0111\u1ec1u b\u1ecb ph\u00f2ng kh\u00f4ng th\u1eafp s\u00e1ng c\u1ea3 b\u1ea7u tr\u1eddi \u0111\u00eam, v\u00e0 ch\u00fang t\u00f4i c\u1ee9 ph\u1ea3i l\u01b0\u1ee3n tr\u00e1nh. C\u00f3 l\u00fac ch\u00fang t\u00f4i ch\u1ec9 c\u00f2n bi\u1ebft v\u1eeba tr\u00e1nh h\u1ecfa ti\u1ec5n, v\u1eeba c\u1ed1 gi\u1eef cao \u0111\u1ed9 \u0111\u1ec3 ti\u1ebfp t\u1ee5c l\u00e0m nhi\u1ec7m v\u1ee5 y\u1ec3m tr\u1ee3 qu\u00e2n b\u1ea1n. G\u1ea7n nh\u01b0 su\u1ed1t phi v\u1ee5, ch\u00fang t\u00f4i \u1edf trong t\u01b0 th\u1ebf ph\u00f2ng th\u1ee7 v\u00e0 tr\u00e1nh n\u00e9 h\u01a1n l\u00e0 t\u00ecm c\u01a1 h\u1ed9i ph\u1ea3n k\u00edch.<\/p>\n

\u0110\u00f3 l\u00e0 l\u1ea7n \u0111\u1ea7u ti\u00ean trong \u0111\u1eddi bay t\u00e1c chi\u1ebfn t\u00f4i c\u1ea3m th\u1ea5y b\u1ea5t l\u1ef1c. C\u1ea3m gi\u00e1c \u1ea5y gi\u1ed1ng nh\u01b0 m\u1ed9t v\u00f5 s\u0129 b\u01b0\u1edbc l\u00ean v\u00f5 \u0111\u00e0i nh\u01b0ng hai tay \u0111\u00e3 b\u1ecb tr\u00f3i ch\u1eb7t.<\/p>\n

Kh\u00f4ng ai n\u00f3i v\u1edbi ai m\u1ed9t l\u1eddi. Nh\u01b0ng nh\u00ecn v\u00e0o \u00e1nh m\u1eaft c\u1ee7a \u0111o\u00e0n vi\u00ean phi h\u00e0nh \u0111o\u00e0n, t\u00f4i bi\u1ebft ai c\u0169ng mang c\u00f9ng m\u1ed9t n\u1ed7i lo \u00e2u l\u1eabn th\u1ea5t v\u1ecdng. N\u1ebfu t\u00ecnh h\u00ecnh ti\u1ebfp t\u1ee5c nh\u01b0 th\u1ebf n\u00e0y, S\u00e0i G\u00f2n c\u00f3 l\u1ebd ch\u1ec9 c\u00f2n \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c t\u00ednh b\u1eb1ng t\u1eebng gi\u1edd!<\/p>\n

Phi v\u1ee5 k\u1ebft th\u00fac v\u00e0o sau 10g \u0111\u00eam ng\u00e0y 28 th\u00e1ng 4. Chi\u1ebfc Tinh Long \u0111\u01b0a ch\u00fang t\u00f4i tr\u1edf v\u1ec1 T\u00e2n S\u01a1n Nh\u1ee9t an to\u00e0n sau m\u1ea5y ti\u1ebfng \u0111\u1ed3ng h\u1ed3 c\u0103ng th\u1eb3ng. Kh\u00f4ng ai ng\u1edd \u0111\u00f3 c\u0169ng l\u00e0 l\u1ea7n cu\u1ed1i c\u00f9ng t\u00f4i b\u01b0\u1edbc xu\u1ed1ng chi\u1ebfc AC-119K v\u1edbi t\u01b0 c\u00e1ch m\u1ed9t phi c\u00f4ng t\u00e1c chi\u1ebfn c\u1ee7a Kh\u00f4ng Qu\u00e2n Vi\u1ec7t Nam C\u1ed9ng H\u00f2a.<\/p>\n

Sau khi ho\u00e0n t\u1ea5t c\u00e1c th\u1ee7 t\u1ee5c sau chuy\u1ebfn bay, t\u00f4i tr\u1edf v\u1ec1 c\u01b0 x\u00e1 c\u0169ng \u0111\u00e3 g\u1ea7n 12g s\u00e1ng. Hai ch\u00fa em c\u00f2n th\u1ee9c n\u00f3i chuy\u1ec7n v\u1edbi ng\u01b0\u1eddi v\u1ee3 mang b\u1ea7u c\u1ee7a th\u1eb1ng b\u1ea1n v\u1eeba g\u1eedi bu\u1ed5i chi\u1ec1u tr\u01b0\u1edbc khi \u0111i bay. Th\u1eb1ng b\u1ea1n \u0111\u01b0a c\u00f4 \u1ea5y v\u00e0o \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c c\u0103n c\u1ee9 bu\u1ed5i tr\u01b0a, c\u00f9ng l\u00fac t\u00f4i mang ch\u00fa em th\u1ee9 b\u1ea3y t\u1eeb B\u00ecnh Tuy ch\u1ea1y v\u1ec1 Saigon. C\u1ea3 \u0111\u00eam th\u1ee9c tr\u1eafng, c\u1ea3 ng\u01b0\u1eddi r\u00e3 r\u01b0\u1ee3i, m\u1ec7t m\u1ecfi. T\u00f4i ch\u1ec9 mong t\u00ecm m\u1ed9t g\u00f3c \u0111\u1ec3 ng\u1ed3i ch\u1ee3p m\u1eaft v\u00e0i gi\u1edd tr\u01b0\u1edbc khi tr\u1eddi s\u00e1ng. Nh\u01b0ng v\u1eeba lim dim ch\u01b0a \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c bao l\u00e2u, nh\u1eefng ti\u1ebfng n\u1ed5 d\u1eef d\u1ed9i \u0111\u00e2y \u0111\u00f3 trong c\u0103n c\u1ee9 c\u00e0ng l\u00fac c\u00e0ng nhi\u1ec1u, l\u00e0m c\u1ea3 khu c\u01b0 x\u00e1 rung chuy\u1ec3n.<\/p>\n

Ph\u00e1o k\u00edch!<\/p>\n

T\u00f4i b\u1eadt d\u1eady lao ra ngo\u00e0i. T\u1eebng c\u1ed9t kh\u00f3i \u0111en b\u1ed1c l\u00ean t\u1eeb nhi\u1ec1u h\u01b0\u1edbng trong phi tr\u01b0\u1eddng. Ti\u1ebfng \u0111\u1ea1n n\u1ed5 d\u1ed3n d\u1eadp h\u00f2a l\u1eabn ti\u1ebfng c\u00f2i b\u00e1o \u0111\u1ed9ng v\u00e0 ti\u1ebfng xe qu\u00e2n s\u1ef1 ch\u1ea1y ng\u01b0\u1ee3c xu\u00f4i. Kh\u00f4ng c\u1ea7n ai gi\u1ea3i th\u00edch, t\u00f4i c\u0169ng bi\u1ebft T\u00e2n S\u01a1n Nh\u1ee9t \u0111ang b\u1ecb \u0111\u1ecbch t\u1ea5n c\u00f4ng d\u1eef d\u1ed9i.<\/p>\n

Tr\u1edf v\u00e0o ph\u00f2ng th\u00ec th\u1ea5y hai ch\u00fa em v\u00e0 c\u00f4 g\u00e1i mang b\u1ea7u \u0111ang chen nhau chui d\u01b0\u1edbi g\u1ea7m gi\u01b0\u1eddng tr\u00e1nh ph\u00e1o. T\u00f4i \u0111\u1ee9ng ng\u1ed3i kh\u00f4ng y\u00ean gi\u1eefa nh\u1eefng tr\u00e0ng ph\u00e1o k\u00edch d\u1ed9i li\u00ean h\u1ed3i quanh c\u0103n c\u1ee9. B\u1ed7ng nghe m\u1ed9t ti\u1ebfng r\u00edt th\u1eadt l\u1edbn, x\u00e9 to\u1ea1c c\u1ea3 m\u00e0ng nh\u0129 s\u00e1t b\u00ean ngo\u00e0i c\u01b0 x\u00e1 r\u1ed3i im b\u1eb7t. H\u00fa h\u1ed3n!<\/p>\n

Tr\u1eddi v\u1eeba h\u1eebng s\u00e1ng, b\u00ean ngo\u00e0i b\u1ed7ng vang l\u00ean nh\u1eefng ti\u1ebfng la th\u1ea5t thanh. T\u00f4i ch\u1ea1y v\u1ed9i ra. M\u1ecdi ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111ang ch\u1ec9 tay l\u00ean b\u1ea7u tr\u1eddi ph\u00eda \u0111\u00f4ng b\u1eafc. M\u1ed9t chi\u1ebfc Tinh Long v\u1eeba b\u1ecb h\u1ecfa ti\u1ec5n SA-7 b\u1eafn tr\u00fang \u0111\u1ed9ng c\u01a1 b\u00ean tr\u00e1i. Chi\u1ebfc phi c\u01a1 xoay nghi\u00eang, m\u1ea5t ki\u1ec3m so\u00e1t r\u1ed3i c\u1eafm th\u1eb3ng xu\u1ed1ng \u0111\u1ea5t!<\/p>\n

Tim t\u00f4i th\u1eaft l\u1ea1i, \u0111au nh\u00f3i.<\/p>\n

T\u00f4i v\u1ed9i tr\u1edf v\u00e0o ph\u00f2ng, tr\u1ea5n an hai ch\u00fa em v\u00e0 ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u00e0n b\u00e0, r\u1ed3i nh\u1ea3y l\u00ean chi\u1ebfc Lambrettite ch\u1ea1y th\u1eb3ng v\u00e0o Phi \u0111o\u00e0n 821 \u0111\u1ec3 bi\u1ebft chi\u1ebfc n\u00e0o v\u1eeba b\u1ecb b\u1eafn h\u1ea1 v\u00e0 nh\u1eefng ai \u0111ang c\u00f3 m\u1eb7t tr\u00ean \u0111\u00f3.<\/p>\n

V\u1eeba \u0111\u1ecbnh ch\u1ea1y \u0111i, t\u00f4i ch\u1ee3t nh\u00ecn sang doanh tr\u1ea1i hu\u1ea5n luy\u1ec7n t\u00e2n binh b\u00ean kia \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng, \u0111\u1ed1i di\u1ec7n khu c\u01b0 x\u00e1. C\u1ea3 doanh tr\u1ea1i v\u1eafng tanh, s\u00fang \u0111\u1ea1n n\u1eb1m v\u01b0\u01a1ng v\u00e3i kh\u1eafp n\u01a1i nh\u01b0 v\u1eeba b\u1ecb b\u1ecf l\u1ea1i trong c\u01a1n h\u1ed7n lo\u1ea1n. M\u1ed9t \u00fd ngh\u0129 ch\u1ee3t l\u00f3e l\u00ean trong \u0111\u1ea7u. T\u00f4i gh\u00e9 v\u00e0o nh\u1eb7t v\u00e0i kh\u1ea9u s\u00fang c\u00e1 nh\u00e2n c\u00f9ng m\u1ed9t m\u1edb \u0111\u1ea1n d\u01b0\u1ee3c mang v\u1ec1 ph\u00f2ng, c\u1ea9n th\u1eadn ch\u1ec9 cho hai ch\u00fa em c\u00e1ch s\u1eed d\u1ee5ng trong tr\u01b0\u1eddng h\u1ee3p b\u1ea5t tr\u1eafc, r\u1ed3i l\u1eadp t\u1ee9c l\u00ean xe ph\u00f3ng \u0111i.<\/p>\n

D\u1ecdc \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng, khung c\u1ea3nh h\u1ed7n lo\u1ea1n hi\u1ec7n ra tr\u01b0\u1edbc m\u1eaft. Xe c\u1ed9 chen ch\u00fac. Qu\u00e2n nh\u00e2n v\u00e0 gia \u0111\u00ecnh h\u1ed1i h\u1ea3 t\u00ecm \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng tho\u00e1t kh\u1ecfi c\u0103n c\u1ee9. Ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u1ed5 ra h\u01b0\u1edbng c\u1ed5ng Phi. Long v\u00e0 Hu\u1ef3nh H\u1eefu B\u1ea1c \u0111\u00f4ng h\u01a1n s\u1ed1 ng\u01b0\u1eddi ch\u1ea1y ng\u01b0\u1ee3c v\u00e0o. Ch\u1ea1y ngang qua khu c\u01b0 x\u00e1 c\u1ee7a n\u1eef qu\u00e2n nh\u00e2n, th\u1eadt l\u00e0 m\u1ed9t c\u1ea3nh h\u1ed7n lo\u1ea1n – n\u00e0o xe c\u1ee9u th\u01b0\u01a1ng, n\u00e0o c\u1ea3nh \u0111\u1ed5 n\u00e1t, ng\u01b0\u1eddi ng\u01b0\u1eddi nh\u1ed1n nh\u00e1o.<\/p>\n

Khi \u0111\u1ebfn Phi \u0111o\u00e0n 821, v\u00e0i chi\u1ebfn h\u1eefu \u0111ang t\u1ee5m nhau b\u00e0n t\u00e1n. H\u1ecfi ra m\u1edbi bi\u1ebft chi\u1ebfc v\u1eeba b\u1ecb b\u1eafn h\u1ea1 l\u00e0 Tinh Long 07, \u0111ang tr\u1ef1c chi\u1ebfn. L\u00fac \u1ea5y, t\u00f4i ch\u1ec9 bi\u1ebft tr\u01b0\u1edfng phi c\u01a1 l\u00e0 Trung U\u00fd Trang V\u0103n Th\u00e0nh v\u00e0 co-pilot T\u00e0o Thu\u1eadn. Trang V\u0103n Th\u00e0nh \u0111\u00e3 bay Tinh Long 01 \u0111\u00eam qua, v\u00ec nh\u00e0 xa n\u00ean ng\u1ee7 l\u1ea1i ch\u1edd s\u00e1ng. Trong Phi V\u1ee5 L\u1ec7nh, tr\u1ef1c chi\u1ebfn Tinh Long 07 l\u00e0 \u00f4ng Phi \u0110o\u00e0n Tr\u01b0\u1edfng nh\u01b0ng kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft v\u00ec l\u00fd do g\u00ec Trang V\u0103n Th\u00e0nh l\u1ea1i bay th\u1ebf v\u00e0 g\u1ed3m nh\u1eefng ai. <\/p>\n

Xin m\u1edf ngo\u1eb7c n\u00f3i th\u00eam v\u1ec1 Trung U\u00fd Trang V\u0103n Th\u00e0nh.<\/p>\n

Th\u00e0nh r\u1ea5t gan d\u1ea1 trong t\u1ea5t c\u1ea3 c\u00e1c phi v\u1ee5 t\u00e1c chi\u1ebfn, d\u00f9 \u1edf chi\u1ebfn tr\u01b0\u1eddng hung hi\u1ec3m n\u00e0o, v\u00f9ng n\u00e0o. H\u1eafn \u0111eo nanh heo, b\u1ea3o v\u1edbi anh em r\u1eb1ng h\u1eafn c\u00f3 b\u00f9a Mi\u00ean n\u00ean \u0111\u1ea1n kh\u00f4ng b\u1eafn tr\u00fang \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c. Trong nh\u1eefng phi v\u1ee5 \u201cn\u00f3ng\u201d th\u01b0\u1eddng b\u1ecb v\u1eafng m\u1eb7t m\u1ed9t s\u1ed1 \u0111o\u00e0n vi\u00ean, ph\u1ea3i t\u00ecm ng\u01b0\u1eddi thay \u1edf ph\u00fat cu\u1ed1i. Th\u00e0nh l\u00e0 n\u1ed7i khi\u1ebfp \u0111\u1ea3m cho \u0111\u1ecbch qu\u00e2n tr\u00ean chi\u1ebfn tr\u01b0\u1eddng, t\u1eeb mi\u1ec1n Nam cho \u0111\u1ebfn t\u1eadn mi\u1ec1n Trung Vi\u1ec7t Nam. T\u00f4i kh\u00f4ng ng\u1ea1i \u0111i bay v\u1edbi Th\u00e0nh ch\u1ec9 v\u00ec mu\u1ed1n xem c\u00e1i gan c\u1ee7a m\u00ecnh ch\u1ecbu \u0111\u1ef1ng t\u1edbi \u0111\u00e2u. <\/p>\n

\u0110\u00f3ng ngo\u1eb7c.<\/p>\n

T\u00f4i \u0111au \u0111\u1edbn \u0111\u1ee9ng l\u1eb7ng ng\u01b0\u1eddi m\u1ed9t l\u00fac kh\u00e1 l\u00e2u r\u1ed3i l\u1eb7ng l\u1ebd quay xe tr\u1edf l\u1ea1i c\u01b0 x\u00e1.<\/p>\n

Tr\u00ean \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng v\u1ec1, \u0111\u1ea7u \u00f3c t\u00f4i hoang mang t\u1ed9t \u0111\u1ed9. Ch\u1ee3t ngh\u0129 t\u1edbi nh\u1eefng kh\u00f3 kh\u0103n m\u1ecdi m\u1eb7t trong th\u1eddi gian t\u1edbi. T\u00f4i gh\u00e9 qua khu gia binh, t\u1edbi qu\u00e1n c\u1ee7a Trung s\u0129 Ng\u1ecdn – m\u1ed9t \u0111o\u00e0n vi\u00ean v\u1eeba bay c\u00f9ng t\u00f4i trong phi v\u1ee5 \u0111\u00eam tr\u01b0\u1edbc – mua \u00edt g\u1ea1o v\u00e0 v\u00e0i chai n\u01b0\u1edbc m\u1eafm. Trong \u0111\u1ea7u t\u00f4i ch\u1ec9 c\u00f3 m\u1ed9t \u00fd ngh\u0129 l\u00e0 s\u1ebd ph\u1ea3i c\u1ed1 th\u1ee7 trong c\u0103n c\u1ee9.<\/p>\n

\u0110\u01b0\u1eddng v\u1ec1 c\u01b0 x\u00e1 c\u00e0ng l\u00fac c\u00e0ng h\u1ed7n lo\u1ea1n. D\u00f2ng ng\u01b0\u1eddi v\u1eabn kh\u00f4ng ng\u1eebng \u0111\u1ed5 v\u1ec1 ph\u00eda hai c\u1ed5ng ch\u00ednh c\u1ee7a c\u0103n c\u1ee9. Khung c\u1ea3nh \u1ea5y b\u00e1o cho t\u00f4i bi\u1ebft cu\u1ed9c chi\u1ebfn \u0111\u00e3 b\u01b0\u1edbc v\u00e0o nh\u1eefng gi\u1edd ph\u00fat cu\u1ed1i c\u00f9ng. Chi\u1ebfn tranh \u0111\u00e3 tr\u00e0n v\u00e0o t\u1eadn S\u00e0i G\u00f2n, tr\u00e0n v\u00e0o ngay trung t\u00e2m \u0111\u1ea7u n\u00e3o c\u1ee7a B\u1ed9 T\u01b0 l\u1ec7nh Kh\u00f4ng Qu\u00e2n Mi\u1ec1n Nam.<\/p>\n

V\u1ec1 \u0111\u1ebfn ph\u00f2ng, t\u00f4i ch\u1ee3t nh\u00ecn th\u1ea5y ngay b\u00ean h\u00f4ng c\u01b0 x\u00e1 m\u1ed9t ph\u1ea7n \u0111u\u00f4i c\u1ee7a qu\u1ea3 h\u1ecfa ti\u1ec5n, trong tr\u1eadn ph\u00e1o k\u00edch \u0111\u00eam qua, c\u1eafm s\u00e2u xu\u1ed1ng \u0111\u1ea5t m\u00e0 kh\u00f4ng ph\u00e1t n\u1ed5. T\u00f4i r\u00f9ng m\u00ecnh. N\u1ebfu n\u00f3 n\u1ed5 \u0111\u00eam qua, c\u00f3 l\u1ebd anh em ch\u00fang t\u00f4i v\u00e0 nhi\u1ec1u chi\u1ebfn h\u1eefu quanh \u0111\u00e2y \u0111\u00e3 kh\u00f4ng c\u00f2n ai s\u1ed1ng s\u00f3t.<\/p>\n

T\u00f4i nh\u00ecn quanh m\u1ed9t l\u01b0\u1ee3t. Trong \u0111\u1ea7u n\u1ed5i l\u00ean quy\u1ebft \u0111\u1ecbnh d\u1ee9t kho\u00e1t, ph\u1ea3i r\u1eddi kh\u1ecfi c\u0103n c\u1ee9 b\u1eb1ng m\u1ecdi gi\u00e1. T\u00f4i b\u01b0\u1edbc nhanh v\u00e0o ph\u00f2ng, ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u00e0n b\u00e0 mang b\u1ea7u c\u1ee7a b\u1ea1n \u0111\u00e3 kh\u00f4ng c\u00f2n \u1edf \u0111\u00f3; gi\u1ee5c hai ch\u00fa em l\u00ean xe r\u1ed3i ch\u1ea1y th\u1eb3ng ra b\u00e3i \u0111\u1eadu phi c\u01a1, hy v\u1ecdng v\u1eabn c\u00f2n m\u1ed9t c\u01a1 h\u1ed9i \u0111\u1ec3 tho\u00e1t kh\u1ecfi T\u00e2n S\u01a1n Nh\u1ee9t.<\/p>\n

Ch\u1ea1y kh\u1eafp c\u00e1c b\u00e3i \u0111\u1eadu phi c\u01a1 c\u00e1c lo\u1ea1i phi c\u01a1, c\u1ea7u mong g\u1eb7p \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c chi\u1ebfc n\u00e0o \u0111ang chu\u1ea9n b\u1ecb ra \u0111i. Th\u1ebf nh\u01b0ng, t\u1ea5t c\u1ea3 \u0111\u1ec1u v\u1eafng l\u1eb7ng, ngo\u1ea1i tr\u1eeb ti\u1ebfng ph\u00e1o k\u00edch c\u1ee7a \u0111\u1ecbch qu\u00e2n v\u1eabn l\u00e1c \u0111\u00e1c vang v\u1ecdng. Ch\u1ea1y v\u1ec1 ph\u00eda b\u00e3i \u0111\u1eadu phi c\u01a1 AC-119K, g\u1eb7p m\u1ed9t ch\u00fa phi \u0111\u1ea1o quen, ch\u00fa n\u00f3i ch\u00fa bi\u1ebft ch\u1ed7 nh\u1eefng chi\u1ebfc kh\u1ea3 d\u1ee5ng. Ch\u00fa c\u00f2n d\u1eb7n d\u00f2, t\u00ecm \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c cho h\u1eafn theo v\u1edbi. D\u0129 nhi\u00ean r\u1ed3i. <\/p>\n

T\u00f4i ch\u1ea1y theo ch\u00fa m\u1ed9t l\u00fac kh\u00e1 l\u00e2u. Nh\u1eefng chi\u1ebfc kh\u1ea3 d\u1ee5ng \u0111\u00e3 kh\u00f4ng c\u00f2n. N\u1ed7i th\u1ea5t v\u1ecdng tr\u00e0n ng\u1eadp. Ch\u1ee3t th\u1ea5y m\u1ed9t chi\u1ebfc Tinh Long c\u00f2n trong \u1ee5, g\u1ea7n tr\u1ea1m ti\u1ebfp li\u00ean Kh\u00f4ng Qu\u00e2n. T\u00f4i v\u1ee5t ch\u1ea1y \u0111\u1ebfn, b\u1ea3o hai ch\u00fa em ng\u1ed3i tr\u00ean xe, t\u00f4i nh\u1ea3y l\u00ean c\u00e1nh xem hai b\u00ecnh x\u0103ng. Th\u1ea5y x\u0103ng \u0111\u1ea7y. V\u00e0o ph\u00f2ng l\u00e1i quay th\u1eed m\u00e1y. M\u00e1y ho\u1ea1t \u0111\u1ed9ng t\u1ed1t, ch\u1ec9 m\u1ed9t s\u1ed1 phi c\u1ee5 b\u1ecb h\u1ecfng. T\u00f4i quy\u1ebft \u0111\u1ecbnh li\u1ec1u m\u1ea1ng. <\/p>\n

Th\u1ebf nh\u01b0ng nh\u00ecn quanh kh\u00f4ng th\u1ea5y hai ch\u00fa em. T\u00f4i t\u1eaft m\u00e1y, ra kh\u1ecfi phi c\u01a1 t\u00ecm quanh v\u1eabn kh\u00f4ng th\u1ea5y. B\u1ed7ng nhi\u00ean th\u1ea5y v\u00e0i chi\u1ebfn h\u1eefu pilot c\u1ee7a phi \u0111o\u00e0n, \u1edf \u0111\u00e2u kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft, nh\u1ea3y l\u00ean phi c\u01a1, n\u1ed5 m\u00e1y, taxi ra kh\u1ecfi \u1ee5. T\u00f4i kh\u00f4ng th\u1ec3 \u0111i theo v\u00ec v\u1eabn kh\u00f4ng th\u1ea5y b\u00f3ng d\u00e1ng hai ch\u00fa em. T\u00f4i c\u1ed1 ra hi\u1ec7u cho h\u1ecd ch\u1edd t\u00f4i nh\u01b0ng h\u1ecd v\u1eabn ti\u1ebfp t\u1ee5c ch\u1ea1y \u0111i v\u1ec1 ph\u00eda phi \u0111\u1ea1o. T\u00f4i \u0111\u1ee9ng s\u1eefng nh\u00ecn chi\u1ebfc Tinh Long t\u1eeb t\u1eeb m\u1ea5t h\u00fat t\u1ea7m m\u1eaft. L\u00f2ng n\u1eb7ng tr\u0129u v\u00ec gi\u1eadn h\u1ecd, gi\u1eadn c\u1ea3 hai ch\u00fa em v\u00e0 lo l\u1eafng, hoang mang c\u1ef1c \u0111\u1ed9. <\/p>\n

Nhi\u1ec1u n\u0103m sau, m\u1ed7i l\u1ea7n nh\u1edb l\u1ea1i chuy\u1ec7n \u1ea5y, t\u00f4i kh\u00f4ng c\u00f2n gi\u1eadn c\u00e1c chi\u1ebfn h\u1eefu c\u1ee7a m\u00ecnh nh\u01b0 tr\u01b0\u1edbc n\u1eefa. T\u00f4i hi\u1ec3u r\u1eb1ng trong ho\u00e0n c\u1ea3nh sinh t\u1eed l\u00fac b\u1ea5y gi\u1edd, ai c\u0169ng c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 l\u00e0m nh\u1eefng \u0111i\u1ec1u m\u00e0 trong cu\u1ed9c s\u1ed1ng b\u00ecnh th\u01b0\u1eddng, l\u01b0\u01a1ng t\u00e2m m\u00ecnh kh\u00f4ng bao gi\u1edd cho ph\u00e9p.<\/p>\n

\u0110ang l\u00fac ch\u01b0a bi\u1ebft h\u00e0nh x\u1eed ra sao th\u00ec th\u1ea5y hai ch\u1ee7 em ch\u1ea1y l\u1ea1i. L\u00f2ng m\u1eebng r\u1ee1 nh\u01b0ng qu\u1ea1u qu\u00e1. Hai ch\u00fa cho bi\u1ebft l\u00e0 mu\u1ed1n ch\u1ea1y v\u1ec1 B\u00ecnh Tuy t\u00ecm gia \u0111\u00ecnh nh\u01b0ng ngo\u00e0i c\u1ed5ng v\u00f4 c\u00f9ng r\u1ed1i lo\u1ea1n. Qu\u00e2n C\u1ea3nh kh\u00f4ng cho ai ra v\u00e0o. D\u00f9ng s\u00fang b\u1eafn ch\u1ec9 thi\u00ean, b\u1eafn lu\u00f4n xu\u1ed1ng \u0111\u1ea5t xua \u0111u\u1ed5i m\u1ecdi ng\u01b0\u1eddi kh\u00f4ng cho ra v\u00e0o.<\/p>\n

\u0110i\u1ec1u \u0111\u00f3 c\u00f3 ngh\u0129a l\u00e0 con \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng b\u1ed9 duy nh\u1ea5t c\u00f2n l\u1ea1i \u0111\u1ec3 r\u1eddi kh\u1ecfi c\u0103n c\u1ee9 c\u0169ng \u0111\u00e3 b\u1ecb c\u1eaft \u0111\u1ee9t. Trong l\u00fac \u0111\u00f3, t\u00e2m tr\u00ed t\u00f4i c\u1ee9 v\u0103ng v\u1eb3ng nh\u1eefng l\u1eddi cha m\u1eb9 \u0111\u00e3 d\u1ea1y t\u1eeb thu\u1edf b\u00e9, \u201cC\u1ed9ng s\u1ea3n l\u00e0 nh\u1eefng k\u1ebb v\u00f4 c\u1ea3m. Ch\u00fang l\u00e0 hi\u1ec7n th\u00e2n c\u1ee7a s\u1ef1 l\u1eeba l\u1ecdc, d\u1ed1i tr\u00e1, l\u00f2ng th\u00f9 h\u1eadn v\u00e0 s\u1ef1 gi\u1ebft ch\u00f3c.\u201d<\/strong><\/em> T\u00f4i c\u1ee9 t\u1ef1 nh\u1ee7 trong l\u00f2ng, \u201cB\u1eb1ng m\u1ecdi gi\u00e1, ch\u00fang t\u00f4i ph\u1ea3i tho\u00e1t kh\u1ecfi n\u01a1i n\u00e0y.” D\u00f9 t\u00f4i v\u1eabn ch\u01b0a bi\u1ebft b\u1eb1ng c\u00e1ch n\u00e0o.<\/p>\n

Ba M\u1eb9 t\u00f4i l\u00fac n\u00e0y \u1edf \u0111\u00e2u? C\u00e1c anh ch\u1ecb em t\u00f4i b\u00e2y gi\u1edd ra sao? G\u1ea7n hai n\u0103m r\u1ed3i t\u00f4i ch\u01b0a c\u00f3 d\u1ecbp v\u1ec1 th\u0103m nh\u00e0. H\u01a1n hai th\u00e1ng qua, m\u1ecdi li\u00ean l\u1ea1c \u0111\u1ec1u b\u1ecb c\u1eaft \u0111\u1ee9t cho t\u1edbi khi ch\u00fa em th\u1ee9 b\u1ea3y v\u1ec1 \u0111\u1ebfn Saigon m\u1edbi n\u00f3i cho t\u00f4i bi\u1ebft c\u1ea3 gia \u0111\u00ecnh t\u1ea3n c\u01b0 \u0111i nhi\u1ec1u n\u01a1i nh\u01b0ng v\u1eabn \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c an to\u00e0n khi ch\u00fa r\u1eddi \u0111i. Nh\u01b0ng trong gi\u1edd ph\u00fat \u1ea5y, t\u00f4i v\u1eabn r\u1ea5t lo l\u1eafng cho s\u1ed1 ph\u1eadn c\u1ee7a gia \u0111\u00ecnh, kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft h\u1ecd \u1edf \u0111\u00e2u, c\u00f3 an to\u00e0n hay kh\u00f4ng. T\u00f4i ch\u1ec9 c\u00f2n bi\u1ebft r\u1eb1ng, l\u00fac n\u00e0y ch\u1ec9 c\u00f2n ba anh em, d\u00f9 chuy\u1ec7n g\u00ec x\u1ea3y ra… ba anh em c\u0169ng ph\u1ea3i s\u1ed1ng ch\u1ebft c\u00f3 nhau.<\/p>\n

\u0110\u1ed9t nhi\u00ean nghe ti\u1ebfng h\u00e9t l\u1edbn, “Thu\u1eadn! Thu\u1eadn! Ch\u1ea1y theo \u0111i v\u1edbi anh! Anh c\u1ea7n co-pilot!”<\/p>\n

T\u00f4i quay ph\u1eaft l\u1ea1i. M\u1ed9t chi\u1ebfc xe pickup m\u00e0u xanh c\u1ee7a Kh\u00f4ng Qu\u00e2n v\u1eeba v\u01b0\u1ee3t l\u00ean. Ng\u1ed3i sau tay l\u00e1i l\u00e0 Thi\u1ebfu t\u00e1 Phan V\u0169 \u0110i\u1ec7n. Tr\u00ean th\u00f9ng xe c\u00f2n c\u00f3 m\u1ed9t s\u1ed1 ng\u01b0\u1eddi, g\u1ed3m anh em c\u01a1 phi v\u00e0 \u00e1p t\u1ea3i, \u0111ang v\u1eaby tay g\u1ecdi ch\u00fang t\u00f4i.<\/p>\n

Trong kho\u1ea3nh kh\u1eafc \u1ea5y, t\u00f4i c\u00f3 c\u1ea3m gi\u00e1c nh\u01b0 ng\u01b0\u1eddi s\u1eafp ch\u1ebft \u0111u\u1ed1i b\u1ed7ng nh\u00ecn th\u1ea5y m\u1ed9t chi\u1ebfc phao. Kh\u00f4ng suy ngh\u0129 g\u00ec th\u00eam. T\u00f4i l\u1eadp t\u1ee9c quay xe, b\u1ea3o hai ch\u00fa em b\u00e1m th\u1eadt ch\u1eb7t r\u1ed3i ph\u00f3ng theo chi\u1ebfc pickup \u0111ang lao vun v\u00fat v\u1ec1 ph\u00eda \u0111\u00f4ng b\u1eafc phi tr\u01b0\u1eddng, g\u1ea7n khu h\u00e0ng kh\u00f4ng d\u00e2n s\u1ef1.<\/p>\n

\u0110\u1ebfn b\u00ean chi\u1ebfc C-130, \u0111\u00e3 th\u1ea5y m\u1ed9t s\u1ed1 ng\u01b0\u1eddi l\u1ed1 nh\u1ed1 chen nhau l\u00ean m\u00e1y bay. T\u00f4i \u0111\u01b0a hai ch\u00fa em l\u00ean c\u1eeda tr\u01b0\u1edbc b\u00ean h\u00f4ng c\u1ee7a phi c\u01a1, t\u00ecm m\u1ed9t g\u00f3c tr\u1ed1ng b\u1ea3o ng\u1ed3i y\u00ean, r\u1ed3i v\u1ed9i b\u01b0\u1edbc l\u00ean ph\u00f2ng l\u00e1i. Kh\u00f4ng ai n\u00f3i v\u1edbi ai m\u1ed9t l\u1eddi. C\u00f9ng nh\u1ea3y v\u1ed9i l\u00ean m\u00e1y bay, ai lo vi\u1ec7c n\u1ea5y. <\/p>\n

Anh \u0110i\u1ec7n \u0111\u00e3 b\u1eaft \u0111\u1ea7u kh\u1edfi \u0111\u1ed9ng m\u00e1y. T\u00f4i c\u1ea7m v\u1ed9i cu\u1ed1n checklist, l\u01b0\u1edbt th\u1eadt nhanh t\u1eebng h\u1ea1ng m\u1ee5c \u0111\u1ec3 ph\u1ee5 anh ho\u00e0n t\u1ea5t c\u00e1c th\u1ee7 t\u1ee5c c\u1ea7n thi\u1ebft trong l\u00fac chi\u1ebfc C-130 b\u1eaft \u0111\u1ea7u l\u0103n b\u00e1nh ra kh\u1ecfi \u1ee5 \u0111\u1eadu. \u00c1p t\u1ea3i Ho\u00e0ng th\u00f4ng b\u00e1o v\u1eabn ch\u01b0a \u0111\u00f3ng \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c c\u1eeda ramp v\u00ec c\u00f2n nhi\u1ec1u ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111ang c\u1ed1 leo l\u00ean. Anh \u0110i\u1ec7n ra l\u1ec7nh \u0111\u00f3ng c\u1eeda v\u00ec s\u1ee3 qu\u00e1 t\u1ea3i trong ho\u00e0n c\u1ea3nh chi\u1ebfc m\u00e1y bay kh\u00f4ng ho\u00e0n h\u1ea3o. Anh \u0110i\u1ec7n n\u00f3i nh\u01b0 ph\u00e2n tr\u1ea7n, \u201c\u0110\u00e0nh l\u00f2ng th\u00f4i!\u201d Nh\u01b0ng trong intercom, \u00c1p t\u1ea3i Ho\u00e0ng b\u00e1o ng\u01b0\u1eddi l\u00ean \u0111\u00f4ng qu\u00e1, ch\u01b0a \u0111\u00f3ng c\u1eeda \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c. Anh \u0110i\u1ec7n h\u1ecfi tr\u00ean phi c\u01a1 \u0111\u00e3 c\u00f3 bao nhi\u00eau ng\u01b0\u1eddi t\u1ea5t c\u1ea3. Ho\u00e0ng n\u00f3i \u0111\u00e3 \u0111\u1ebfm \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c t\u1ed5ng c\u1ed9ng 115 onboard. Anh ra l\u1ec7nh ph\u1ea3i \u0111\u00f3ng c\u1eeda ngay v\u00ec s\u1eafp ra t\u1edbi \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng b\u0103ng c\u1ea5t c\u00e1nh.<\/p>\n

Chi\u1ebfc Hercules t\u0103ng t\u1ed1c lao v\u1ec1 ph\u00eda tr\u01b0\u1edbc. T\u00f4i nh\u00ecn nhanh c\u00e1c \u0111\u1ed3ng h\u1ed3 \u0111\u1ed9ng c\u01a1 r\u1ed3i \u0111\u01b0a m\u1eaft nh\u00ecn ra ngo\u00e0i. Kh\u00f4ng c\u00f2n th\u00ec gi\u1edd \u0111\u1ec3 suy ngh\u0129 g\u00ec th\u00eam. M\u1ecdi hy v\u1ecdng c\u1ee7a h\u01a1n m\u1ed9t tr\u0103m con ng\u01b0\u1eddi tr\u00ean chi\u1ebfc m\u00e1y bay l\u00fac \u1ea5y \u0111\u1ec1u \u0111\u1eb7t v\u00e0o b\u1ed1n \u0111\u1ed9ng c\u01a1 \u0111ang g\u1ea7m l\u00ean ph\u00eda tr\u01b0\u1edbc.<\/p>\n

Ch\u00fang t\u00f4i nh\u1eadp v\u00e0o phi \u0111\u1ea1o ngay t\u1ea1i taxiway g\u1ea7n nh\u1ea5t, ch\u1ec9 kho\u1ea3ng n\u1eeda chi\u1ec1u d\u00e0i \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng b\u0103ng, thay v\u00ec t\u1edbi \u0111\u1ea7u phi \u0111\u1ea1o nh\u01b0 quy tr\u00ecnh th\u00f4ng th\u01b0\u1eddng. \u0110i\u1ec1u \u0111\u00f3 c\u00f3 ngh\u0129a l\u00e0 ch\u00fang t\u00f4i ph\u1ea3i c\u1ea5t c\u00e1nh v\u1edbi qu\u00e3ng \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng ng\u1eafn h\u01a1n r\u1ea5t nhi\u1ec1u.<\/p>\n

Anh \u0110i\u1ec7n \u0111\u1ea9y b\u1ed1n c\u1ea7n ga l\u00ean t\u1ed1i \u0111a. Ti\u1ebfng \u0111\u1ed9ng c\u01a1 g\u1ea7m l\u00ean d\u1eef d\u1ed9i. Chi\u1ebfc C-130 rung chuy\u1ec3n r\u1ed3i lao \u0111i nh\u01b0 m\u1ed9t con th\u00fa kh\u1ed5ng l\u1ed3 \u0111ang d\u1ed1c h\u1ebft s\u1ee9c \u0111\u1ec3 tho\u00e1t kh\u1ecfi m\u1eb7t \u0111\u1ea5t. T\u00f4i ph\u1ee5 gi\u1eef ch\u1eb7t c\u1ea7n l\u00e1i, c\u00f9ng anh \u0110i\u1ec7n gi\u1eef cho chi\u1ebfc phi c\u01a1 \u1ed5n \u0111\u1ecbnh.<\/p>\n

Tr\u00ean \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng b\u0103ng, nhi\u1ec1u ch\u1ed7 h\u01b0 h\u1ea1i, v\u1eadt d\u1ee5ng n\u1eb1m v\u01b0\u01a1ng v\u00e3i sau tr\u1eadn ph\u00e1o k\u00edch. Anh \u0110i\u1ec7n v\u1eeba \u0111i\u1ec1u khi\u1ec3n m\u00e1y bay t\u0103ng t\u1ed1c, v\u1eeba ph\u1ea3i l\u1ea1ng tr\u00e1nh nh\u1eefng ch\u01b0\u1edbng ng\u1ea1i v\u1eadt ngay tr\u01b0\u1edbc m\u0169i phi c\u01a1. T\u1ed1c \u0111\u1ed9 v\u1eabn ch\u01b0a \u0111\u1ea1t m\u1ee9c c\u1ea5t c\u00e1nh nh\u01b0 b\u00ecnh th\u01b0\u1eddng. Cu\u1ed1i \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng b\u0103ng \u0111\u00e3 \u0111\u1ebfn r\u1ea5t g\u1ea7n.<\/p>\n

Chi\u1ebfc C-130 v\u1eabn ti\u1ebfp t\u1ee5c lao v\u1ec1 ph\u00eda tr\u01b0\u1edbc. T\u00f4i li\u1ebfc nhanh \u0111\u1ed3ng h\u1ed3 t\u1ed1c \u0111\u1ed9. V\u1eabn ch\u01b0a \u0111\u1ee7. Trong bu\u1ed3ng l\u00e1i, kh\u00f4ng ai n\u00f3i m\u1ed9t l\u1eddi. Tho\u00e1ng nh\u00ecn s\u1eafc m\u1eb7t c\u1ee7a nh\u1eefng s\u0129 quan c\u00f3 m\u1eb7t, t\u00f4i bi\u1ebft ai c\u0169ng \u0111ang ngh\u0129 \u0111\u1ebfn c\u00f9ng m\u1ed9t \u0111i\u1ec1u. N\u1ebfu kh\u00f4ng nh\u1ea5c \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c con t\u00e0u l\u00ean tr\u01b0\u1edbc cu\u1ed1i phi \u0111\u1ea1o… M\u1ecdi chuy\u1ec7n s\u1ebd ch\u1ea5m h\u1ebft.<\/p>\n

Anh \u0110i\u1ec7n v\u1eabn b\u00ecnh t\u0129nh m\u1ed9t c\u00e1ch l\u1ea1 th\u01b0\u1eddng. Hai tay anh gi\u1eef ch\u1eb7t c\u1ea7n l\u00e1i, m\u1eaft kh\u00f4ng r\u1eddi \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng b\u0103ng ph\u00eda tr\u01b0\u1edbc. \u0110\u00fang v\u00e0o nh\u1eefng gi\u00e2y cu\u1ed1i c\u00f9ng, anh nh\u1eb9 nh\u00e0ng k\u00e9o c\u1ea7n. Chi\u1ebfc Hercules nh\u01b0 mi\u1ec5n c\u01b0\u1ee1ng r\u1eddi kh\u1ecfi m\u1eb7t \u0111\u1ea5t, th\u00e2n t\u00e0u rung l\u00ean d\u1eef d\u1ed9i. \u0110\u00f3 kh\u00f4ng ph\u1ea3i l\u00e0 c\u1ea3m gi\u00e1c c\u1ee7a m\u1ed9t c\u00fa c\u1ea5t c\u00e1nh b\u00ecnh th\u01b0\u1eddng. Chi\u1ebfc m\u00e1y bay qu\u00e1 n\u1eb7ng, l\u1ea1i ch\u01b0a \u0111\u1ea1t \u0111\u1ee7 t\u1ed1c \u0111\u1ed9 an to\u00e0n. M\u1ed9t \u00fd ngh\u0129 tho\u00e1ng trong \u0111\u1ea7u l\u00e0m t\u00f4i t\u00ea \u0111i\u1ebfng… kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft s\u1ebd c\u00f3 ai t\u00ecm x\u00e1c r\u01a1i!<\/p>\n

T\u00f4i \u0111\u1ea3o m\u1eaft li\u00ean t\u1ee5c gi\u1eefa \u0111\u1ed3ng h\u1ed3 t\u1ed1c \u0111\u1ed9, cao \u0111\u1ed9, t\u1ed1c \u0111\u1ed9 l\u00ean cao v\u00e0 t\u00ecnh tr\u1ea1ng b\u1ed1n \u0111\u1ed9ng c\u01a1, b\u1ea7u tr\u1eddi ph\u00eda tr\u01b0\u1edbc m\u1eb7t… Chi\u1ebfc phi c\u01a1 ch\u1ec9 c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 t\u1eeb t\u1eeb l\u1ea5y cao \u0111\u1ed9, ho\u00e0n to\u00e0n kh\u00f4ng th\u1ec3 ng\u00f3c \u0111\u1ea7u l\u00ean nhanh nh\u01b0 b\u00ecnh th\u01b0\u1eddng. \u0110\u00e3 v\u1eady c\u00f2n ph\u1ea3i qu\u1eb9o tr\u00e1i ngay v\u1ec1 h\u01b0\u1edbng V\u0169ng T\u00e0u, tr\u00e1nh Tr\u01b0\u1eddng \u0110ua Ph\u00fa Th\u1ecd, n\u01a1i \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c b\u00e1o c\u00f3 h\u1ecfa l\u1ef1c ph\u00f2ng kh\u00f4ng c\u1ee7a \u0111\u1ecbch qu\u00e2n.<\/p>\n

V\u00e0 \u0111\u00f3 l\u00e0 nh\u1eefng gi\u00e2y ph\u00fat h\u1ed3i h\u1ed9p v\u00e0 c\u1eadn k\u1ec1 sinh t\u1eed nh\u1ea5t, kh\u00f4ng kh\u00e1c nh\u1eefng l\u1ea7n nh\u1eadp tr\u1eadn trong \u0111\u1eddi. Chi\u1ebfc Hercules v\u1eabn rung b\u1ea7n b\u1eadt. T\u1eebng gi\u00e2y tr\u00f4i qua nh\u01b0 d\u00e0i v\u00f4 t\u1eadn. R\u1ed3i d\u1ea7n d\u1ea7n… kim \u0111\u1ed3ng h\u1ed3 t\u1ed1c \u0111\u1ed9 b\u1eaft \u0111\u1ea7u nh\u00edch l\u00ean. Ti\u1ebfng \u0111\u1ed9ng c\u01a1 tr\u1edf n\u00ean \u0111\u1ec1u h\u01a1n. Nh\u1eefng rung \u0111\u1ed9ng d\u1eef d\u1ed9i c\u0169ng t\u1eeb t\u1eeb d\u1ecbu xu\u1ed1ng.<\/p>\n

Anh \u0110i\u1ec7n nh\u00ecn sang t\u00f4i. Kh\u00f4ng ai n\u00f3i v\u1edbi ai m\u1ed9t l\u1eddi nh\u01b0ng c\u1ea3 hai \u0111\u1ec1u hi\u1ec3u, ch\u00fang t\u00f4i v\u1eeba v\u01b0\u1ee3t qua c\u1eeda t\u1eed. Chi\u1ebfc Hercules b\u1eaft \u0111\u1ea7u l\u1ea5y \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c cao \u0111\u1ed9 an to\u00e0n h\u01b0\u1edbng v\u1ec1 ph\u00eda V\u0169ng T\u00e0u, b\u1ecf l\u1ea1i ph\u00eda sau l\u01b0ng ch\u00fang t\u00f4i l\u00e0 m\u1ed9t T\u00e2n S\u01a1n Nh\u1ee9t, m\u1ed9t S\u00e0i G\u00f2n trong m\u1ecbt m\u00f9 kh\u00f3i l\u1eeda c\u1ee7a m\u1ed9t ng\u00e0y th\u00e1ng T\u01b0 \u0111\u1ecbnh m\u1ec7nh.<\/p>\n

Nh\u00ecn \u0111\u1ed3ng h\u1ed3 tay, \u0111\u00e3 h\u01a1n m\u1ed9t gi\u1edd chi\u1ec1u. Trong bu\u1ed3ng l\u00e1i, kh\u00f4ng kh\u00ed v\u1eabn c\u0103ng nh\u01b0 d\u00e2y \u0111\u00e0n. Kh\u00f4ng ai d\u00e1m ngh\u0129 r\u1eb1ng m\u00ecnh \u0111\u00e3 th\u1eadt s\u1ef1 tho\u00e1t hi\u1ec3m. Anh \u0110i\u1ec7n v\u1eabn bay, r\u1ea5t mu\u1ed1n \u0111\u00e1p C\u00f4n S\u01a1n v\u00ec v\u1ee3 con c\u1ee7a anh \u1ea5y \u0111\u00e3 \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c \u0111\u01b0a \u0111i tr\u01b0\u1edbc ra \u0111\u00f3 t\u1eeb s\u00e1ng s\u1edbm. Ph\u1ea7n t\u00f4i ti\u1ebfp t\u1ee5c gi\u1eef li\u00ean l\u1ea1c v\u1edbi nhi\u1ec1u t\u1ea7n s\u1ed1 kh\u00e1c nhau \u0111\u1ec3 quy\u1ebft \u0111\u1ecbnh cho phi tr\u00ecnh.<\/p>\n

Tr\u00ean t\u1ea7n s\u1ed1 kh\u00f4ng l\u01b0u b\u1ecf ng\u00f5 vang l\u00ean \u0111\u1ee7 m\u1ecdi ti\u1ebfng g\u1ecdi, ti\u1ebfng h\u01b0\u1edbng d\u1eabn v\u00e0 nh\u1eefng cu\u1ed9c trao \u0111\u1ed5i ch\u1ed3ng ch\u00e9o. T\u1eeb c\u00e1c phi c\u01a1 kh\u00e1c, t\u1eeb c\u00e1c tr\u1ea1m ki\u1ec3m so\u00e1t, r\u1ed3i c\u1ea3 nh\u1eefng \u00fd ki\u1ebfn kh\u00e1c nhau c\u1ee7a c\u00e1c s\u0129 quan cao c\u1ea5p \u0111ang c\u00f3 m\u1eb7t trong bu\u1ed3ng l\u00e1i. Ng\u01b0\u1eddi mu\u1ed1n bay th\u1eb3ng sang Bangkok xin t\u1ef5 n\u1ea1n. C\u00f3 ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u1ec1 ngh\u1ecb \u0111\u1ebfn Utapao, Th\u00e1i Lan. Trong l\u00fac m\u1ecdi ng\u01b0\u1eddi c\u00f2n tranh lu\u1eadn, Thi\u1ebfu t\u00e1 Phan V\u0169 \u0110i\u1ec7n v\u1eabn ch\u0103m ch\u00fa \u0111i\u1ec1u khi\u1ec3n chi\u1ebfc Hercules. Cu\u1ed1i c\u00f9ng, anh kh\u00f4ng n\u00e9n \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c n\u1eefa, quay sang l\u1edbn ti\u1ebfng, \u201cXin m\u1ecdi ng\u01b0\u1eddi im l\u1eb7ng, t\u00f4i l\u00e0 ng\u01b0\u1eddi quy\u1ebft \u0111\u1ecbnh s\u1ebd \u0111\u00e1p \u1edf \u0111\u00e2u!\u201d <\/p>\n

Trong nh\u1eefng li\u00ean l\u1ea1c, \u0111\u00e0i ki\u1ec3m so\u00e1t C\u00f4n S\u01a1n v\u00e0 Ph\u00fa Qu\u1ed1c cho bi\u1ebft kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 ch\u1ed7 \u0111\u00e1p. Kh\u00f4ng an to\u00e0n v\u00ec t\u00f9 \u0111ang s\u1ed5ng chu\u1ed3ng, qu\u1eady qu\u00e1 lung tung. Nghe th\u1ebf, anh \u0110i\u1ec7n bu\u00f4ng tay l\u00e1i \u00f4m m\u1eb7t kh\u00f3c, g\u1ecdi t\u00ean v\u1ee3 con. T\u00f4i c\u1ea7m l\u00e1i v\u00e0 gi\u1eef li\u00ean l\u1ea1c v\u00f4 tuy\u1ebfn \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c m\u1ed9t l\u00fac. Khi anh \u0110i\u1ec7n b\u00ecnh t\u1ec9nh l\u1ea1i, anh \u0111i\u1ec1u khi\u1ec3n phi c\u01a1 v\u00e0 t\u1ecf \u00fd mu\u1ed1n \u0111\u00e1p xu\u1ed1ng bi\u1ec3n (ditching) \u0111\u1ec3 H\u1ea1m \u0110\u1ed9i 7 c\u1ee7a Hoa K\u1ef3 c\u1ee9u v\u1edbt. Nh\u01b0ng m\u1ecdi ng\u01b0\u1eddi ph\u1ea3n \u0111\u1ed1i quy\u1ebft li\u1ec7t v\u00ec t\u00e0u \u0111ang mang theo h\u01a1n m\u1ed9t tr\u0103m nh\u00e2n m\u1ea1ng, s\u1ebd c\u00f3 r\u1ea5t nhi\u1ec1u ng\u01b0\u1eddi kh\u00f4ng th\u1ec3 s\u1ed1ng s\u00f3t. <\/p>\n

Tr\u00ean t\u1ea7n s\u1ed1 nhi\u1ec1u chi\u1ebfn h\u1eefu phi c\u01a1 kh\u00e1c k\u00eau g\u1ecdi nhau tr\u1ef1c ch\u1ec9 c\u0103n c\u1ee9 Kh\u00f4ng Qu\u00e2n Utapao. Sau v\u00e0i ph\u00fat trao \u0111\u1ed5i, m\u1ecdi ng\u01b0\u1eddi cu\u1ed1i c\u00f9ng c\u0169ng \u0111i \u0111\u1ebfn m\u1ed9t quy\u1ebft \u0111\u1ecbnh chung… \u0111i Utapao.<\/p>\n

Chi\u1ebfc Hercules t\u1eeb t\u1eeb \u0111\u1ed5i h\u01b0\u1edbng. Kh\u00f4ng c\u00f2n ai n\u00f3i g\u00ec th\u00eam. M\u1ed7i ng\u01b0\u1eddi l\u1eb7ng l\u1ebd theo \u0111u\u1ed5i nh\u1eefng suy ngh\u0129 ri\u00eang. T\u00f4i ng\u1ed3i y\u00ean trong gh\u1ebf hoa ti\u00eau ph\u1ee5, m\u1eaft v\u1eabn d\u00f5i theo c\u00e1c \u0111\u1ed3ng h\u1ed3 phi c\u1ee5. Ngo\u00e0i khung c\u1eeda k\u00ednh, Bi\u1ec3n \u0110\u00f4ng tr\u1ea3i d\u00e0i b\u1ea5t t\u1eadn d\u01b0\u1edbi c\u00e1nh. Ph\u00eda tr\u01b0\u1edbc l\u00e0 m\u1ed9t ch\u00e2n tr\u1eddi ho\u00e0n to\u00e0n xa l\u1ea1. Kh\u00f4ng ai bi\u1ebft \u0111i\u1ec1u g\u00ec s\u1ebd x\u1ea3y ra ph\u00eda tr\u01b0\u1edbc.<\/p>\n

Sau h\u01a1n hai gi\u1edd bay, t\u1eeb T\u00e2n S\u01a1n Nh\u1ee9t v\u00f2ng qua V\u0169ng T\u00e0u r\u1ed3i h\u01b0\u1edbng v\u1ec1 Utapao, Th\u00e1i Lan, chi\u1ebfc Hercules b\u1eaft \u0111\u1ea7u gi\u1ea3m cao \u0111\u1ed9 \u0111\u1ec3 v\u00e0o \u0111\u00e1p xu\u1ed1ng c\u0103n c\u1ee9 Kh\u00f4ng Qu\u00e2n Utapao.<\/p>\n

\u0110\u1ed3ng h\u1ed3 ch\u1ec9 h\u01a1n ba gi\u1edd chi\u1ec1u. \u0110\u00f3 l\u00e0 ng\u00e0y 29 th\u00e1ng 4 n\u0103m 1975.<\/p>\n

Khi b\u00e1nh m\u00e1y bay v\u1eeba ch\u1ea1m xu\u1ed1ng \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng b\u0103ng, c\u1ea3 th\u00e2n t\u00e0u rung l\u00ean theo ti\u1ebfng th\u1eafng h\u00e3m. Kh\u00f4ng ai b\u1ea3o ai, g\u1ea7n nh\u01b0 m\u1ecdi ng\u01b0\u1eddi c\u00f9ng l\u00fac th\u1edf ph\u00e0o nh\u1eb9 nh\u00f5m. Ch\u00fang t\u00f4i \u0111\u00e3 s\u1ed1ng.<\/p>\n

Chi\u1ebfc Hercules ti\u1ebfp t\u1ee5c l\u0103n b\u00e1nh v\u00e0o khu \u0111\u1eadu. \u0110\u1ed9ng c\u01a1 l\u1ea7n l\u01b0\u1ee3t t\u1eaft. Trong kho\u1ea3nh kh\u1eafc hi\u1ebfm hoi \u1ea5y, c\u1ea3 phi h\u00e0nh \u0111o\u00e0n v\u00e0 h\u01a1n m\u1ed9t tr\u0103m ng\u01b0\u1eddi tr\u00ean m\u00e1y bay g\u1ea7n nh\u01b0 im l\u1eb7ng. Sau nh\u1eefng gi\u1edd ph\u00fat c\u0103ng th\u1eb3ng t\u01b0\u1edfng ch\u1eebng kh\u00f4ng th\u1ec3 v\u01b0\u1ee3t qua, ai c\u0169ng c\u1ea7n v\u00e0i gi\u00e2y \u0111\u1ec3 tin r\u1eb1ng m\u00ecnh v\u1eabn c\u00f2n hi\u1ec7n di\u1ec7n tr\u00ean c\u00f5i \u0111\u1eddi.<\/p>\n

Khi c\u00e1nh c\u1eeda v\u1eeba m\u1edf, m\u1ed9t to\u00e1n qu\u00e2n nh\u00e2n Hoa K\u1ef3 \u0111\u00e3 nhanh ch\u00f3ng b\u01b0\u1edbc l\u00ean m\u00e1y bay. H\u1ecd l\u00e0m vi\u1ec7c r\u1ea5t chuy\u00ean nghi\u1ec7p, thu gom, t\u01b0\u1edbc \u0111o\u1ea1t t\u1ea5t c\u1ea3 v\u0169 kh\u00ed tr\u01b0\u1edbc khi m\u1ecdi ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c h\u01b0\u1edbng d\u1eabn xu\u1ed1ng m\u00e1y bay. Kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 m\u1ed9t l\u1eddi gi\u1ea3i th\u00edch. Kh\u00f4ng m\u1ed9t ph\u1ea3n \u1ee9ng. H\u01a1n m\u1ed9t tr\u0103m con ng\u01b0\u1eddi l\u1eb7ng l\u1ebd n\u1ed1i \u0111u\u00f4i nhau b\u01b0\u1edbc xu\u1ed1ng chi\u1ebfc Hercules \u0111i v\u00e0o tr\u1ea1m.<\/p>\n

T\u00f4i b\u01b0\u1edbc nh\u1eefng b\u01b0\u1edbc ch\u1eadm cu\u1ed1i c\u00f9ng r\u1eddi kh\u1ecfi chi\u1ebfc m\u00e1y bay. V\u1eeba \u0111\u1eb7t ch\u00e2n xu\u1ed1ng m\u1eb7t \u0111\u1ea5t, t\u00f4i quay l\u1ea1i nh\u00ecn chi\u1ebfc Hercules \u0111\u00e3 \u0111\u01b0a ch\u00fang t\u00f4i v\u01b0\u1ee3t qua c\u1eeda t\u1eed. \u0110\u00f3 l\u00e0 l\u1ea7n cu\u1ed1i c\u00f9ng t\u00f4i \u0111\u1ee9ng c\u1ea1nh m\u1ed9t chi\u1ebfc phi c\u01a1 qu\u00e2n s\u1ef1 c\u1ee7a Kh\u00f4ng Qu\u00e2n Vi\u1ec7t Nam C\u1ed9ng H\u00f2a.<\/p>\n

M\u1ed9t to\u00e1n qu\u00e2n nh\u00e2n Hoa K\u1ef3 kh\u00e1c mang thang \u0111\u1ebfn. H\u1ecd nhanh nh\u1eb9n x\u1ecbt s\u01a1n ph\u1ee7 l\u00ean l\u00e1 c\u1edd Vi\u1ec7t Nam C\u1ed9ng H\u00f2a tr\u00ean th\u00e2n m\u00e1y bay r\u1ed3i th\u00e1o lu\u00f4n s\u1ed1 hi\u1ec7u c\u1ee7a con t\u00e0u. T\u00f4i l\u1eb7ng l\u1ebd \u0111\u1ee9ng nh\u00ecn. Kh\u00f4ng ai n\u00f3i m\u1ed9t l\u1eddi. Trong l\u00f2ng t\u00f4i qu\u1eb7n th\u1eaft nh\u01b0 mu\u1ed1n kh\u00f3c. \u0110\u1ebfn l\u00fac \u1ea5y, t\u00f4i m\u1edbi ch\u1ee3t hi\u1ec3u r\u1eb1ng m\u1ed9t ch\u01b0\u01a1ng \u0111\u1eddi v\u1eeba kh\u00e9p l\u1ea1i. T\u00f4i kh\u00f4ng kh\u00f3c. Nh\u01b0ng t\u1eeb gi\u00e2y ph\u00fat \u1ea5y, l\u00f2ng t\u00f4i ng\u1eadp tr\u00e0n hoang mang. T\u00f4i kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft r\u1ed3i m\u00ecnh c\u00f3 c\u00f2n c\u01a1 h\u1ed9i \u0111\u1ec3 tr\u1edf v\u1ec1 v\u1edbi gia \u0111\u00ecnh, v\u1edbi T\u1ed5 qu\u1ed1c hay kh\u00f4ng.<\/p>\n

Ch\u00fang t\u00f4i l\u1eb7ng l\u1ebd theo ng\u01b0\u1eddi l\u00ednh M\u1ef9 \u0111i v\u1ec1 khu t\u1eadp trung d\u00e0nh cho ng\u01b0\u1eddi t\u1ef5 n\u1ea1n. Con \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng kh\u00f4ng d\u00e0i. Nh\u01b0ng \u0111\u1ed1i v\u1edbi t\u00f4i, \u0111\u00f3 l\u00e0 qu\u00e3ng \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng d\u00e0i nh\u1ea5t trong cu\u1ed9c \u0111\u1eddi. M\u1ed7i b\u01b0\u1edbc ch\u00e2n \u0111\u01b0a t\u00f4i r\u1eddi xa qu\u00ea h\u01b0\u01a1ng th\u00eam m\u1ed9t ch\u00fat. Kh\u00f4ng ai c\u00f2n t\u00e2m tr\u1ea1ng \u0111\u1ec3 tr\u00f2 chuy\u1ec7n. Th\u1ec9nh tho\u1ea3ng ch\u1ec9 c\u00f3 v\u00e0i ti\u1ebfng tr\u1ebb con kh\u00f3c v\u00ec m\u1ec7t v\u00e0 kh\u00e1t n\u01b0\u1edbc. Nh\u1eefng ng\u01b0\u1eddi l\u1edbn l\u1eb7ng l\u1ebd b\u01b0\u1edbc \u0111i, m\u1ed7i ng\u01b0\u1eddi mang theo m\u1ed9t n\u1ed7i ni\u1ec1m ri\u00eang. C\u00f3 ng\u01b0\u1eddi v\u1eeba \u0111i v\u1eeba ngo\u00e1i \u0111\u1ea7u nh\u00ecn v\u1ec1 ph\u00eda phi tr\u01b0\u1eddng. C\u00f3 ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u00f4m ch\u1eb7t chi\u1ebfc t\u00fai nh\u1ecf nh\u01b0 s\u1ee3 \u0111\u00e1nh m\u1ea5t t\u1ea5t c\u1ea3 nh\u1eefng g\u00ec c\u00f2n l\u1ea1i c\u1ee7a cu\u1ed9c \u0111\u1eddi m\u00ecnh. Ba anh em ch\u00fang t\u00f4i l\u1eb7ng l\u1ebd \u0111i b\u00ean nhau. Kh\u00f4ng ai n\u00f3i m\u1ed9t l\u1eddi. Ch\u1ec9 c\u1ea7n c\u00f2n nh\u00ecn th\u1ea5y nhau trong d\u00f2ng ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u1ea5y c\u0169ng \u0111\u00e3 l\u00e0 m\u1ed9t ni\u1ec1m an \u1ee7i.<\/p>\n

\u0110\u1ebfn khu t\u1eadp trung, binh s\u0129 Hoa K\u1ef3 ph\u00e1t n\u01b0\u1edbc u\u1ed1ng v\u00e0 m\u1ed9t \u00edt th\u1ef1c ph\u1ea9m. T\u1eeb s\u00e1ng \u0111\u1ebfn gi\u1edd, gi\u1eefa nh\u1eefng bi\u1ebfn c\u1ed1 d\u1ed3n d\u1eadp, t\u00f4i g\u1ea7n nh\u01b0 qu\u00ean m\u1ea5t m\u00ecnh ch\u01b0a \u0103n u\u1ed1ng g\u00ec su\u1ed1t m\u1ea5y canh gi\u1edd. C\u1ea7m chai n\u01b0\u1edbc tr\u00ean tay, t\u00f4i u\u1ed1ng t\u1eebng ng\u1ee5m nh\u1ecf. L\u1ea7n \u0111\u1ea7u ti\u00ean sau nhi\u1ec1u gi\u1edd c\u0103ng th\u1eb3ng, t\u00f4i m\u1edbi c\u1ea3m th\u1ea5y m\u00ecnh th\u1eadt s\u1ef1 ki\u1ec7t s\u1ee9c. T\u00f4i ng\u1ed3i b\u1ec7t xu\u1ed1ng n\u1ec1n xi m\u0103ng, t\u1ef1a l\u01b0ng v\u00e0o m\u1ed9t v\u00e1ch t\u01b0\u1eddng. \u0110\u01b0a m\u1eaft nh\u00ecn quanh. H\u00e0ng tr\u0103m khu\u00f4n m\u1eb7t. H\u00e0ng tr\u0103m s\u1ed1 ph\u1eadn.<\/p>\n

C\u00f3 nh\u1eefng ng\u01b0\u1eddi v\u1eeba m\u1edbi s\u00e1ng nay c\u00f2n l\u00e0 s\u0129 quan, phi c\u00f4ng, c\u00f4ng ch\u1ee9c, hay nh\u1eefng ng\u01b0\u1eddi m\u1eb9 b\u00ecnh th\u01b0\u1eddng \u0111ang s\u1ed1ng trong c\u0103n c\u1ee9. Ch\u1ec9 trong v\u00e0i gi\u1edd ng\u1eafn ng\u1ee7i… T\u1ea5t c\u1ea3 \u0111\u1ec1u tr\u1edf th\u00e0nh nh\u1eefng ng\u01b0\u1eddi t\u1ef5 n\u1ea1n tr\u00ean m\u1ed9t qu\u1ed1c gia l\u00e1ng gi\u1ec1ng. Kh\u00f4ng ai bi\u1ebft ng\u00e0y mai s\u1ebd \u0111i \u0111\u00e2u. Kh\u00f4ng ai bi\u1ebft t\u01b0\u01a1ng lai s\u1ebd ra sao.<\/p>\n

T\u00f4i ng\u1ea9ng nh\u00ecn b\u1ea7u tr\u1eddi Utapao trong xanh. B\u00ecnh y\u00ean. Ho\u00e0n to\u00e0n tr\u00e1i ng\u01b0\u1ee3c v\u1edbi b\u1ea7u tr\u1eddi \u0111\u1ea7y kh\u00f3i l\u1eeda m\u00e0 ch\u00fang t\u00f4i v\u1eeba r\u1eddi kh\u1ecfi. Nh\u00ecn hai ch\u00fa em ch\u1ee3t qu\u1eb7n l\u00f2ng ngh\u0129 \u0111\u1ebfn cha m\u1eb9 v\u00e0 anh ch\u1ecb em, kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft b\u00e2y gi\u1edd h\u1ecd \u0111ang \u1edf \u0111\u00e2u, s\u1ed1ng ch\u1ebft ra sao! D\u00f9 v\u1eady, t\u00f4i v\u1eabn tin r\u1eb1ng r\u1ed3i chi\u1ebfn s\u1ef1 s\u1ebd l\u1eafng xu\u1ed1ng. R\u1ed3i s\u1ebd c\u00f3 ng\u00e0y m\u00ecnh \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c tr\u1edf v\u1ec1 \u0111o\u00e0n t\u1ee5 v\u1edbi cha m\u1eb9 anh em.<\/p>\n

Nh\u01b0ng t\u00f4i \u0111\u00e2u ng\u1edd… Chuy\u1ebfn bay tr\u00ean chi\u1ebfc Hercules tr\u01b0a ng\u00e0y 29 th\u00e1ng 4 n\u0103m 1975 kh\u00f4ng ch\u1ec9 \u0111\u01b0a t\u00f4i r\u1eddi kh\u1ecfi T\u00e2n S\u01a1n Nh\u1ee9t m\u00e0 n\u00f3 \u0111\u00e3 \u0111\u01b0a t\u00f4i \u0111i xa T\u1ed5 qu\u1ed1c h\u01a1n n\u1eeda v\u00f9ng tr\u1eddi, h\u01a1n n\u1eeda th\u1ebf k\u1ef7.
\n<\/br>
\nThe final flight mission<\/strong><\/p>\n

More than half a century has passed.<\/p>\n

And yet, whenever I hold in my hands that last Mission Order, now faded and worn by the years, something inside me still stirs as though yesterday had never ended. I had the fragile photocopy laminated many years ago and kept it as a keepsake. Time has yellowed the paper, softened its edges, and left its marks upon it. But it has not erased the memories held within.<\/p>\n

I need only look at that Mission Order, and the final days of April 1975 come rushing back with startling clarity. The faces of my fellow airmen. The laughter in the operations room. The familiar growl of the Tinh Long aircraft cutting through the darkness. And then… the losses, the farewells, the sorrow of a nation passing through the most fateful hour of its history. Every year, when April comes, the horrible memories return.<\/p>\n

This is not a political essay. Nor is it an attempt to judge anyone. It is simply the account of a pilot who was fortunate enough to survive and bear witness to what he saw during the final hours of the Republic of Vietnam. And perhaps, more than anything else, it is my quiet remembrance of the comrades who never came home – those who took their final flight and disappeared forever into the boundless sky.
\n

* * *<\/center><\/p>\n

On the afternoon of April 28, 1975, my name appeared on the Mission Order – Tinh Long 04 -for that night’s Tinh Long missions.<\/p>\n

Those were days when the war seemed to change by the hour. Province after province was falling. Reports from the various fronts came in one after another, leaving little doubt that Saigon was approaching the hour of life and death. But for airmen like us, once your name appeared on the Mission Order, there was no room for anything else. Whatever was happening beyond the flight line, whatever fear might have been gathering outside, had to be pushed aside. There was only one thing left to do was prepared for the mission.<\/p>\n

The Tinh Long Squadron operated the AC-119K Stinger, providing aerial fire support for friendly ground forces. Each night we had six combat missions and two standby missions. Each flight crew consisted of ten men\u2014five officers: the Aircraft Commander, Co-Pilot, Flight Engineer\/Operator, IR, and NOS; and five enlisted men: the Flight Engineer, three gunners, and the Loadmaster\/Flare Operator.<\/p>\n

Each mission covered its assigned area for two hours, not counting the time required to reach the battlefield and return from the area of responsibility. And so the nights went. One mission after another. One night following another from six in the evening until six the next morning. The two standby crews would took to the air only when the battlefield called for them.<\/p>\n

That afternoon began like countless afternoons before it. The aircrews arrived early at the squadron to receive their Mission Orders. When the time came, military trucks carried us out to the flight line early enough for the necessary preflight preparations before departure. Everything followed the same familiar routine; a routine repeated so many times over so many years that it had become almost instinctive. No one could have imagined that this would be the final mission of our military careers. No one knew that in little more than twenty-four hours, everything we had known would be changed forever.<\/p>\n

That night, we took off as usual. But the world beneath us was no longer the same. The enemy’s anti-aircraft fire was heavier than anything we had encountered before. Every ordinary exterior light on the aircraft was switched off. All ten members of the crew strained their eyes into the darkness, watching for SA-7 missiles and enemy anti-aircraft fire.<\/p>\n

Every time we attempted to enter the battle area, the enemy defenses seemed to set the entire night sky ablaze. We had to circle. We had to evade. At times, all we could do was dodge missiles while struggling to maintain our altitude and hoped to continue providing support to the troops below.<\/p>\n

For nearly the entire mission, we were fighting a defensive battle, kept trying to find an opportunity to strike back, trying to remain alive long enough to complete our duty. For the first time in my combat-flying career, I felt helpless. Completely helpless. The feeling was like that of a fighter stepping into a ring with both hands already bound behind his back.<\/p>\n

No one said a word. But I looked into the faces of the men around me and knew that we were all carrying the same mixture of anxiety and disappointment. If things continued like this, Saigon might have only hours left.<\/p>\n

The mission ended sometime after ten o\u2019clock that night, April 28. The Tinh Long brought us safely back to Tan Son Nhut after several tense hours in the air. None of us could have imagined that this would also be the last time I would ever step down from an AC-119K as a combat pilot of the Republic of Vietnam Air Force.<\/p>\n

After completing the post-flight procedures, I returned to the residential compound close to midnight. My two younger brothers were still awake, talking with the pregnant wife of a friend who had left her in our care the previous afternoon before heading out on his own mission. He had managed to bring her onto the base around noon, at about the same time I brought my seventh younger brother, who just made it to Saigon from Binh Tuy. <\/p>\n

I had been awake all night, and by then my whole body felt drained and heavy with exhaustion. All I wanted was to find a corner where I could close my eyes for a few hours before dawn.<\/p>\n

But I had barely begun to doze when violent explosions started erupting here and there across the base, growing more frequent by the minute until the entire residential compound seemed to tremble.<\/p>\n

Artillery!<\/p>\n

I sprang to my feet and rushed outside. Columns of black smoke were rising from different parts of the Air Base. The rapid thunder of exploding shells mingled with warning sirens and the frantic movement of military vehicles racing back and forth. No one needed to explain what was happening. I knew that Tan Son Nhut was under a fierce enemy attack.<\/p>\n

I hurried back into the room and found my two brothers and the pregnant woman huddled together beneath the bed, seeking shelter from the shelling. I could neither sit nor stand still as the artillery continued to pound the base in relentless waves.<\/p>\n

Then, suddenly, a tremendous shriek tore through the air just outside my residential unit, so close that it seemed to split my eardrums. And then… totally went silence.<\/p>\n

What a fright!<\/p>\n

The explosions kept coming. The whole base seemed to tremble beneath them. <\/p>\n

At first light, sudden cries rang out from outside. I ran out. People were pointing toward the northeastern sky. A Tinh Long had just been struck by an SA-7 missile in its left engine. The aircraft rolled violently to one side, lost control, and plunged toward the ground.<\/p>\n

My heart tightened with a pain I can still feel.<\/p>\n

I hurried back inside, reassured my two brothers and the woman, then jumped onto my Lambrettite and headed straight for the 821st Squadron to find out which Tinh Long had gone down and who had been aboard.<\/p>\n

Just as I was about to leave, I happened to see across the road at the recruit-training barracks opposite our residential compound. The entire barracks was deserted. Weapons and ammunition lay scattered everywhere, as though the men had simply vanished in the middle of the chaos.<\/p>\n

An idea flashed through my mind. I stopped and picked up several personal weapons and a quantity of ammunition and carried them back to the room. I carefully showed my two brothers how to use them should the need arise. Then I climbed back onto the Lambrettite and left.<\/p>\n

The scene along the road was one of utter confusion. Vehicles jammed the way. Soldiers and their families hurried desperately in search of some way out of the base. The flow of people toward the Phi Long and Huynh Huu Bac gates was far greater than the number moving in the opposite direction. When I passed by the women’s military housing area, I saw chaos everywhere – ambulances, wreckage, frightened people running in every direction.<\/p>\n

At the 821st Squadron, few comrades were gathered together, talking among themselves. I asked what had happened. The aircraft that had just been shot down was Tinh Long 07, which had been on standby alert.<\/p>\n

At the time, the only members of the crew I knew were the Aircraft Commander was Lieutenant Trang V\u0103n Th\u00e0nh, and the co-pilot, Lt. T\u00e0o Thu\u1eadn. Trang V\u0103n Th\u00e0nh had flown Tinh Long 01 the previous night. Because his home was far away, he had remained at squardron\u2019s quarter until morning.<\/p>\n

According to the Mission Order, Tinh Long 07 was supposed to be flown by the Squadron Commander. I did not know why Trang V\u0103n Th\u00e0nh had taken the mission in his place. Nor did I know who else had been aboard.<\/p>\n

Let me pause here for a moment and say something about First Lieutenant Trang V\u0103n Th\u00e0nh.<\/p>\n

Th\u00e0nh was fearless on every combat mission, regardless of how dangerous the battlefield or where it lay. He wore a boar’s tooth around his neck and used to tell us that he carried a Khmer talisman that made him immune to bullets. On the hottest missions, some crew members would sometimes be absent, forcing the squadron to find replacements at the last minute.<\/p>\n

Th\u00e0nh was a terror to the enemy on fire-support missions, from the battlefields of southern all the way to the Central region of Vi\u1ec7t Nam. I never hesitated to fly with Th\u00e0nh. Part of me simply wanted to find out how much courage I really had.<\/p>\n

End of aside.<\/p>\n

I stood there in silence for a long while, overcome with grief. Then I quietly jumped on the Lambrettite headed back to the residential compound. On the way home, my mind was in turmoil. I began thinking about all the difficulties that lay ahead.<\/p>\n

I stopped at the military-family housing area and went to the small shop run by Sergeant Ng\u1ecdn, the crewman who had flown with me the previous night. I bought some rice and a few bottles of fish sauce. There was only one thought in my mind, \u201cWe would have to hold out inside the base.\u201d<\/p>\n

The road back to the compound grew more chaotic by the minute. People continued streaming toward the two main gates. Looking at them, I understood that the war had entered its final hours. The war had reached Saigon itself. It had reached the very heart of the headquarters of the Air Force Command in the South.<\/p>\n

When I returned to the room, I noticed something beside the residential compound that made me stop. Part of the tail section of an 122″ missile lay buried deep in the ground. It had fallen during the previous night’s bombardment but had failed to explode. A chill ran through me. Had it detonated during the night, my brothers and I, and many comrades living nearby might not have survived.<\/p>\n

I looked around. And suddenly, my decision was made. We had to leave the base at any cost. I hurried into the room. The pregnant wife of my friend was gone. I urged my two brothers onto the Lambrettite and headed straight for the aircraft parking garages areas. Perhaps there was still one last chance to escape Tan Son Nhut.<\/p>\n

I raced through the aircrafts parking garages praying that I might find one still preparing to leave. But everywhere was deserted. Only the occasional boom of enemy artillery broke the silence.<\/p>\n

I headed toward the AC-119K garages and came across a familiar man from our flight line. He told me he knew where some operational aircraft might still be found. Then he asked me to take him along if I found one. Of course. I would.<\/p>\n

I followed him for quite some distance. But the usable aircraft were gone. The disappointment was overwhelming. Then, suddenly, I saw it. A Tinh Long was still sitting inside a revetment near the Air Force communications station.<\/p>\n

I ran toward it, told my two brothers to stay with the Lambrettite while I climbed onto the wing to inspect the two fuel tanks. They were full. Climbed back into the cockpit and started the engines. They started. The engines were working well except a few instruments were inoperative. However, I made my decision. I would take the chance.<\/p>\n

But when I looked around, my two brothers were gone. I shut down the engines and climbed off the aircraft to searched for them but saw nowhere. Then, suddenly, several pilot comrades from the squadron appeared from nowhere, jumped into the aircraft. They started the engines and hastily taxied out of its parking. I could not board with them since my brothers were still missing. I waved desperately for them to wait but they kept moving toward the runway. I stood there, frozen, watching the Tinh Long quickly disappear into the distance.<\/p>\n

My heart was heavy with anger toward them, anger toward my brothers. My mind went completely numb. <\/p>\n

Years later, whenever I remember that moment, I no longer feel the same anger toward my comrades. I understand now that when life and death are hanging by a thread, people may do things that, under ordinary circumstances, their own consciences would never permit.<\/p>\n

I was still standing there, not knowing what to do, when I suddenly saw my two brothers running back toward me. Relief washed over me, followed immediately by anger. They explained that they had tried to go back to Binh Tuy to find the families, but at the gates everything was in chaos. The Military Police were allowing no one in or out. They fired into the air. Then they fired into the ground. Anyone who tried to pass was driven back.<\/p>\n

That meant, the only remaining road out of the base had been cut off. There was no way out by land. And yet, in my mind, I kept hearing the words our parents had taught us since childhood, \u201cCommunists are people without hearts. They are the embodiment of deception, lies, hatred, revenge, and killing.\u201d I kept telling myself, \u201cWe have to get out of here. Whatever it takes.\u201d Even I had no idea how.<\/p>\n

Where were my parents now? What had become of my brothers and sisters? It had been nearly two years since I had last had the chance to return home. For more than two months, all communication had been cut off, until my seventh younger brother finally reached Saigon and told me that the family had scattered to different places, but that everyone was still safe when he left. <\/p>\n

Yet, in that moment, I could not help worrying about their fate. Where were they now? Were they safe? I had no way of knowing. All I knew was that, at that moment, there were only the three of us, whatever might happen… we would live or die together.<\/p>\n

Suddenly, a voice rang out behind me. \u201cThuan! Thuan! Come with me! I need a co-pilot!\u201d<\/p>\n

I spun around. A blue Air Force pickup had just pulled up and passed by. Behind the wheel was Major Phan V\u0169 \u0110i\u1ec7n. In the back were several people included flight mechanic and loadmaster, they were waving frantically for us to follow.<\/p>\n

In that instant, I felt like a drowning man who had suddenly seen a lifeline. I did not think. I turned the Lambrettite around, told my brothers to hold on tightly, and sped after the pickup as it raced toward the northeastern end of the airfield, near the civilian aviation area.<\/p>\n

When we reached the C-130, a number of people were already scrambling aboard, jostling and squeezing their way inside. I led my two younger brothers to the forward side door, found them an empty corner, and told them to stay there. Then I hurried up into the cockpit.<\/p>\n

No one said a word to anyone else. We simply scrambled aboard and went about whatever needed to be done.<\/p>\n

Major \u0110i\u1ec7n had already begun starting the engines. I grabbed the checklist and ran through it as quickly as I could, helping him complete the necessary procedures while the C-130 began moving out of its parking position.<\/p>\n

From the rear came the voice of Loadmaster Hoang, \u201cThe ramp door could not yet be closed. Too many people were still trying to climb aboard.\u201d Major \u0110i\u1ec7n ordered the door closed, afraid the aircraft dangerously overloaded, and its condition was far from ideal. He spoke as if offering an explanation, \u201cWe have no choice,\u201d he said. But Hoang called again over the intercom.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere were still too many people. The ramp could not be closed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Major \u0110i\u1ec7n asked how many people were aboard. Hoang replied that he had counted 115.<\/p>\n

\u201cClose it now,\u201d Major \u0110i\u1ec7n ordered. We were almost at the runway.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Hercules began to accelerate. I glanced at the engine instruments, then looked outside. There was no time left to think about anything else. The fate of more than one hundred people aboard that aircraft now rested on four engines roaring at full power. <\/p>\n

We entered the runway from the nearest taxiway, roughly halfway down its length, instead of taxiing all the way to the normal runway threshold. That left us with a dangerously short distance for takeoff. Major \u0110i\u1ec7n pushed all four throttles to maximum power. The engines roared. The entire aircraft shuddered.<\/p>\n

Then the C-130 surged forward like some enormous beast throwing every ounce of its strength into breaking free from the earth. I helped hold the controls, working with Major \u0110i\u1ec7n to keep the aircraft steady. The runway was damaged in several places. Debris and equipment lay scattered across it from the artillery bombardment.<\/p>\n

Major \u0110i\u1ec7n continued accelerating while swerving around obstacles appearing directly in our path. The airspeed was still below what we would normally require for takeoff. And the end of the runway was coming fast while the Hercules kept charging forward.<\/p>\n

I glanced at the airspeed indicator. Still not enough. Everyone was in the cockpit hold their breaths. I looked briefly at the faces of people around me\u2026 looked like everyone was thinking the same thing. If the aircraft did not leave the ground before the runway ended… it would all be over.<\/p>\n

Major \u0110i\u1ec7n remained strangely calm. His hands were firm on the controls. His eyes never left the runway. Then, in those final seconds, he gently pulled back. The Hercules seemed almost reluctant to surrender itself to the air. The fuselage shook violently. This was not a normal takeoff. The aircraft was too heavy. We had not reached a safe airspeed. And one thought flashed through my mind with terrifying clarity, \u201cWill someone ever find the wreckage.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

My eyes moved rapidly between the airspeed indicator, altitude, rate of climb, the four engines, and the sky ahead. The aircraft could only climb gradually. It simply would not rise as quickly as a normal takeoff required. And we had to turn left almost immediately toward V\u0169ng T\u00e0u, avoiding the Phu Tho Racecourse, where we had been warned enemy anti-aircraft fire was present.<\/p>\n

Those were among the most terrifying seconds of my flying life. They felt no different from entering a battle. The Hercules continued to tremble violently. Every second seemed to stretch into eternity. Then, little by little… the airspeed needle began to climb. The engines settled into a steadier roar. The violent shaking began to ease. Major \u0110i\u1ec7n looked at me. Neither of us spoke. We both breathed a sigh of relief. We had just passed through the gates of death.<\/p>\n

The Hercules began to gain safe altitude toward Vung Tau. Behind us lay Tan Son Nhut. Behind us lay Saigon. Both were disappearing beneath a vast shroud of smoke and fire on that fateful April day.<\/p>\n

I looked at my watch. It was past one in the afternoon. Inside the cockpit, the tension remained as tight as a drawn wire. No one dared believe that we were truly safe. Major \u0110i\u1ec7n continued flying, desperately wanting to land at Con Son because his wife and children had been taken there earlier that morning.<\/p>\n

I continued working the radios, monitoring several frequencies as we tried to determine our next course. The open air-traffic frequencies were filled with overlapping voices, calls, instructions, questions, conflicting suggestions. Some came from other aircraft. Some came from control stations. Others came from senior officers inside our own cockpit. One wanted to fly directly to Bangkok and seek asylum. Another suggested Utapao, Thailand.<\/p>\n

While everyone argued, Major Phan V\u0169 \u0110i\u1ec7n remained focused on flying the Hercules. Finally, he could take no more. He turned toward everyone in the cockpit and shouted, \u201cPlease be quiet, I\u2019m the one to make the decision where to go!\u201d<\/p>\n

Over the radio, the control stations at Con Son and Phu Quoc told us there was nowhere for us to land. It was very unsafe. Prisoners had escaped and were running wild. Hearing this, Major \u0110i\u1ec7n released the controls, covered his face with his hands, and wept, calling out the names of his wife and children. I took the controls for a while, I flew the aircraft and continued to handle the radio communications. <\/p>\n

When Major \u0110i\u1ec7n had regained his composure, he returned to the controls. He then suggested ditching the aircraft at sea so that the U.S. Seventh Fleet could rescue us. But everyone strongly opposed since it was very dangerous. Besides that, there were more than one hundred lives aboard, many of them may not be survived. <\/p>\n

The radio was filled with voices from other friendly aircraft calling to one another, urging everyone to head directly for the Royal Thai Air Force base at Utapao.<\/p>\n

After several minutes of discussion, we finally reached a common decision. Utapao. The Hercules slowly changed course. No one spoke anymore. Each of us withdrew into his own thoughts. I sat quietly in the co-pilot’s seat, my eyes fixed on the flight instruments. Beyond the cockpit windows, the South China Sea stretched endlessly beneath our wings. Ahead of us was a horizon we had never known. No one knew what waited beyond it.<\/p>\n

After more than two hours of flight from Tan Son Nhut, around Vung Tau, and onward toward Utapao, Thailand, the Hercules began its descent. Utapao Air Base lay ahead. The clock showed a little after three in the afternoon. It was April 29, 1975.<\/p>\n

When the wheels finally touched the runway, the entire aircraft shuddered as the brakes took hold. No one had to say anything. Almost everyone seemed to exhale at once. We had survived. The Hercules continued taxiing toward the parking area. One by one, the engines fell silent. For a brief moment, the entire aircraft was quiet. The crew. The more than one hundred passengers. After hours of tension that had seemed impossible to survive, we each needed a few seconds simply to believe that we were still alive.<\/p>\n

When the doors opened, a group of American servicemen quickly boarded. They worked with practiced efficiency, collecting and confiscating all weapons before directing everyone off the aircraft. There was no explanation. No protest. No argument. More than one hundred people silently walked off the Hercules and into the processing area.<\/p>\n

I was among the last to step away from the aircraft. When my feet touched the ground, I turned and looked back. The Hercules stood there. The aircraft that had carried us through the gates of death. It was the last time I would ever stand beside a military aircraft of the Republic of Vietnam Air Force.<\/p>\n

Another group of American servicemen brought over a ladder. They climbed up and quickly sprayed paint over the Republic of Vietnam flag on the fuselage. Then they removed the aircraft’s identification numbers. I stood there watching in silence. Something inside me tightened until it hurt. I felt as though I might cry. Only then did I begin to understand. A chapter of my life had just ended. <\/p>\n

I did not cry. But from that moment on, an immense uncertainty settled over me. I did not know whether I would ever have the chance to return to my family, to my homeland.<\/p>\n

We followed the American soldiers quietly toward the refugee holding area. The distance was not far but for me, it was the longest road I had ever walked. With every step, I was leaving my homeland farther behind.<\/p>\n

No one had the heart to speak. Now and then came the cries of children, exhausted and thirsty. The adults walked in silence, each carrying a private grief. Some turned back from time to time to look toward the airfield. Others clutched small bags against their bodies as though those few possessions were all that remained of their lives. Three of us walked together silently but simply seeing one another there, amid that endless stream of refugees, was already a kind of comfort.<\/p>\n

At the holding area, American soldiers handed out drinking water and a little food. Only then did I realize that, amid everything that had happened since morning, I had completely forgotten that we had not eat or drink for the entire time. I held the bottle of water in my hand and drank slowly, one small swallow at a time.<\/p>\n

For the first time in many hours, I felt the full weight of my exhaustion. I lowered myself onto the concrete floor and leaned against a wall. Then I looked around. Hundreds of faces. Hundreds of lives. Some had been officers that very morning. Some pilots. Some civil servants. Some simply mothers and fathers living ordinary lives inside the base. And then, within the space of a few short hours… they had all become refugees in a neighboring country. No one knew where tomorrow would take them. No one knew what the future held.<\/p>\n

I looked up at the clear blue sky over Utapao. It was peaceful. Almost impossibly peaceful. So different from the sky of smoke and fire we had just left behind. I looked at my two brothers. And my heart suddenly ached for our parents, for our brothers and sisters. Where were they now? Were they alive? Were they safe?<\/p>\n

Despite everything, I still believed the fighting would eventually subside. Surely, someday, I would return. Surely, someday, I would sit again with my parents and my brothers and sisters. I had no idea then how wrong that hope would prove to be. I could not have known that the flight aboard that Hercules on the afternoon of April 29, 1975, was not merely taking me away from Tan Son Nhut. It was taking me away from my homeland. For more than half a century.<\/p>\n