Laos plane crash: 17 confirmed dead, five injured

Vientiane: At least 17 people have been confirmed dead and five injured after an aircraft carrying representatives of the Laos government crashed, an official said. The air crash happened about 1.5 km from Xieng Khouang province’s airport, Xinhua reported. [caption id=“attachment_1529977” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Image used for representational purpose. Reuters[/caption] Among the passengers on board the AN-74TK300 aircraft, there was Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Minister of Defence Douangchay Phichit, the minister of public security, the secretary of the Laos People’s Revolutionary Party’s Central Committee, the chairman of the Propaganda Training Committee, and the mayor of Vientiane. The Laos defence ministry said that the government officials were on their way to attend an event to commemorate the creation of the Lao Army’s 2nd Division. IANS