HANOI, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) — A military training aircraft L-39 of Vietnam crashed Friday morning at a rice paddy in central Phu Yen Province, some 950 km south of capital Hanoi, a local official told Xinhua.

The sole pilot was killed in the crash, said Vo Ngoc Hoa, chairman of people's committee of Phu Yen's Dong Hoa district where the accident happened.

Meanwhile, local Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper reported that the aircraft, coded 8705, experienced a loss of engine power while flying and crashed minutes after taking off at around 8:20 a. m. local time (01:20 GMT) on Friday.

The student pilot onboard tried to make emergency landing at the nearest airport but failed, said Tuoi Tre.

Witnesses said it is a small-sized military aircraft. Rescue forces have arrived at the crash site which was completely sealed off, reported Tuoi Tre.