Plane carrying Laos Defence Minister crashes

Rescue workers search an air force plane crash site near Nadee village, in Xiang Khouang province in the north of the country May 17, 2014.[Photo/Agencies]

VIENTIANE -- At least five people were confirmed dead and three found alive after an aircraft carrying high-ranking leaders of Laos crashed on Saturday morning in the country's northeastern province of Xieng Khouang, sources told Xinhua.

The Prime Minister's Office has issued an announcement that the AN-74TK300 aircraft of the Lao air force has crashed at 7:00 am local time on Saturday in Nadee village, Paek district of Xieng Khouang province, while carrying the representatives of the government to attend an event to commemorate the creation of the Lao army's 2nd Division.

At least 17 passengers were confirmed aboard the aircraft.

The aircraft was carrying Lao Defence Minister Douangchay Phichit, who is also a deputy prime minister, minister of public security, secretariat of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party's Central Committee, chairman of the Propaganda Training Committee and mayor of Vientiane.

Sources from the Defense Ministry of Laos told Xinhua that no Chinese passengers were on board.

The authority's concern is now to help rescue the survivors. The cause of accident is under the investigation. The progress of the accident will be informed later, Lao state-run news agency KPL reported.

In October, a Lao Airlines ATR-72 turboprop crashed during a heavy storm as it approached Pakse Airport in southern Laos, killing all 49 people on board.

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