In early November 2025, Vietnam is set to stage one of its most ambitious aviation search and rescue exercises ever, with authorities in Gia Lai province putting the finishing touches on plans for SAREX 2025. According to reports from Báo Thanh tra and information provided by the Gia Lai People’s Committee, the exercise will simulate a dramatic scenario: a Boeing 737 carrying 120 passengers experiences a critical technical failure while flying over Gia Lai’s airspace, detects smoke in the cockpit, and ultimately crashes into the Nhơn Lý sea area after losing radar contact.
The SAREX 2025 drill, organized at the Ministry level by the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam, will unfold in the Nhơn Lý sea area, Quy Nhơn Đông ward, Gia Lai province. The choice of location isn’t arbitrary—it’s a region marked by challenging geography, with rugged mountains, dense forests, and a lengthy coastline. The search and rescue area for the exercise stretches across an estimated 4,810 square kilometers, encompassing both land and sea. That’s no small patch of territory, and it’s exactly this complexity that organizers hope will test and refine Vietnam’s emergency response capabilities.
The scenario, detailed by the Gia Lai People’s Committee on September 12, 2025, begins with the B737 detecting smoke in the cockpit mid-flight. The crew requests an emergency landing at Phù Cát airport in neighboring Bình Định province. But the drama escalates quickly—the aircraft loses all contact and vanishes from radar. Its last known position is over the Nhơn Lý sea, setting off a massive, coordinated search effort.
To rise to the challenge, the SAREX 2025 steering committee has devised a sweeping plan that mobilizes resources and personnel on an unprecedented scale. Rescue forces will include helicopters, specialized search and rescue vessels, local fishing boats, command vehicles, rescue trucks, mobile medical units, and a host of modern equipment. The operation brings together teams from the Ministry of National Defense, civil aviation authorities, the navy, police, medical services, and various local agencies in Gia Lai, all working in close coordination.
These forces will be organized into three primary search sectors: air, land, and sea. Each sector will have its own responsibilities but must also work seamlessly with the others to ensure no stone—or wave—is left unturned. During the exercise, teams will simulate everything from pinpointing the missing aircraft’s location and approaching the crash site, to evacuating passengers, rescuing victims, and even mitigating environmental hazards that might arise from such a disaster. The entire operation is designed to be as realistic as possible, pushing every participant to react as they would in a true crisis.
"SAREX 2025 is a very important activity to improve the ability to respond and handle emergencies in a timely manner, especially in the field of aviation," remarked Mr. Nguyễn Hữu Quế, Vice Chairman of the Gia Lai People’s Committee, as quoted in Báo Thanh tra. He went on to affirm that the province is committed to “close coordination with all forces to ensure the highest results for the exercise.”
The exercise isn’t just about testing the skills and readiness of Vietnam’s search and rescue teams. It’s also a crucial opportunity to evaluate the command and operational capacity of the various agencies involved. Organizers plan to use the event to review and improve existing regulations, plans, and procedures related to aviation search and rescue. There’s a clear focus on practical outcomes—making sure that lessons learned during the drill can be quickly translated into better real-world preparedness.
But there’s more at stake than just national readiness. SAREX 2025 is also a chance for Vietnam to showcase its search and rescue capabilities on the global stage. The event is expected to be observed by representatives from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and international partners. By demonstrating a high level of coordination, technological sophistication, and operational effectiveness, Vietnam aims to bolster the reputation and standing of its civil aviation sector worldwide.
Preparation for the exercise is already in full swing. The Gia Lai People’s Committee and SAREX 2025 Steering Committee are finalizing detailed scenarios, assigning specific tasks to each participating force, and organizing on-site training sessions. These rehearsals are vital—not only do they help familiarize participants with the local terrain and equipment, but they also foster the kind of teamwork and quick decision-making that’s essential in a real emergency.
“From now until the time of the exercise, the Steering Committee will continue to complete the detailed scenario, assign specific tasks to each force, and organize training and field drills so that forces can become familiar with the area and equipment,” the Gia Lai People’s Committee stated, as reported by Báo Thanh tra. This meticulous preparation underscores just how seriously Vietnamese authorities are taking the event.
The scale of SAREX 2025 is unprecedented in Vietnam’s history of aviation emergency drills. The hope is that, by simulating such a complex and high-stakes scenario, all involved agencies will gain invaluable hands-on experience. The lessons learned could prove critical—not only for responding to aviation incidents but for any large-scale emergency that demands swift, coordinated action across multiple sectors and jurisdictions.
Of course, the true test of any emergency plan is how it performs under pressure. Exercises like SAREX 2025 can’t replicate every nuance of a real disaster, but they do provide a vital proving ground for new technologies, inter-agency communication, and rapid decision-making. With aviation traffic in the region on the rise and the world watching closely, the stakes for getting it right have never been higher.
As the early November date approaches, anticipation is building among officials, emergency responders, and international observers alike. SAREX 2025 promises not only to sharpen Vietnam’s readiness for aviation emergencies but also to send a clear message about the country’s commitment to safety, professionalism, and international cooperation in the skies and beyond.
When the simulated crisis unfolds off the coast of Nhơn Lý, it won’t just be a test for those on the ground—it will be a moment for Vietnam to demonstrate how far its civil aviation sector has come, and how prepared it is to meet whatever challenges the future may hold.
