Bio

Little is publicly known about Le Duc Tan's childhood, family, or exact date of birth. Available records and reports do not provide clear details about his early years or schooling.

He served as a ranger in the South Vietnamese army and was stationed in Da Nang. Contemporary accounts describe him as a military man before the events that made him known in news reports.

Murder Story

On September 15, 1974, Air Vietnam Flight 706, a Boeing 727, was hijacked after leaving Da Nang on a flight to Saigon. The hijackers included Le Duc Tan and two accomplices. They held two grenades and demanded to be flown to Hanoi. The pilot said he had to land at Phan Rang Air Base for fuel.

Shortly before the plane exploded, the pilot radioed that a hijacker was pulling the pins on two grenades. The aircraft overshot the base leg and began a left turn. During the turn it lost control.

The plane plunged to the ground from about 1,000 feet and crashed. All 75 people aboard were killed.