Recovered Remains of Indian Tourists to be Transported Home via Vietnam Air

The bodies of fifteen Indian citizens who perished in a tourist boat mishap off the coast of Phu Quoc will be flown to India on Monday on Vietnam Airlines flight VN979. The plane departs Ho Chi Minh City at 1800 hours local time and reaches Mumbai’s international airport at approximately 2135 hours Indian time.

The boat, carrying about thirty‑two Indian holiday‑makers, flipped over on Saturday while navigating the southern waters of Vietnam. Ten of the dead were from Tamil Nadu; the remaining victims came from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala. The journey had been arranged as a reward trip for tourism staff, turning into a tragic loss.

A statement from the Indian embassy in Hanoi, posted on the X network, affirmed that the remains would leave Vietnam today and that relevant state governments have been alerted to aid families in the repatriation process.

Authorities in Nghe An’s Son Kien commune arrested a 57‑year‑old boat operator, Nguyen Hong Hai, on allegations of regulatory violations tied to the incident, and have opened a criminal proceeding against him.

Rescue operations involved local fishermen, emergency units and volunteers who rushed to the scene, rescued several passengers, and administered CPR to those unconscious. The official death toll stands at fifteen, while the cause of the capsizing remains under investigation.