A Cambodian policeman examines a piece of metal from an unidentified flying object found by fishermen southwest of Kampot province near the Cambodia-Vietnam border, 91 miles west of Phnom Penh, May 29, 2008.

HANOI (Reuters) - An unidentified flying object exploded in mid-air over a southern Vietnamese island, state media said Wednesday, a day after Cambodia's air force retracted a report of a mysterious plane crash.

The Vietnam News Agency said residents of Phu Quoc island, 10 km (6 miles) off the coast of the Cambodian province of Kampot, found shards of grey metal, including one 1.5 meters (1.5 yards) long.

"The explosion happened at about 8 km (5 miles) above the ground, and perhaps it was a plane, but authorities could not identify whether it was a civil or military aircraft," VNA said in a report headlined "UFO explodes over Phu Quoc Island."

Soldiers were sent out to look for wreckage and survivors, and local authorities contacted airlines in Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand, but received no reports of missing aircraft, the official state news agency added.

Villagers in Kampot said Tuesday that they had heard a loud explosion. Wednesday they told Reuters they had found small chunks of metal near the coastline.

Kung Mony, deputy commander of Cambodia's Air Force, said Tuesday he had been told of a foreign plane crashing in Kampot province, but later backed off his claims of an aircraft accident.

(Writing by Grant McCool and Ed Cropley in Bangkok; Editing by Bill Tarrant)

© Thomson Reuters 2008 All rights reserved

SOURCE: REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

SOURCE: REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

Kien Giang Province authorities have reported the discovery of metal debris, believed to be fragments from the explosion of an unidentified flying object (UFO), to the central government, an official said Friday.

Lam Quang Chanh, the provincial People’s Committee’s spokesman, told Thanh Nien metal pieces had rained down in Ganh Dau and Cua Can communes on the island of Phu Quoc at about 10:20 a.m. on May 27.

The Military Command of Phu Quoc District said militias and residents had recovered 14 metal pieces allegedly deposited on the island from the explosion.

Rumors in Phu Quoc also suggest that some individuals have retrieved “dollars” or “very cold” metal pieces following the UFO’s explosion.

Nguyen Thanh Banh, Kien Giang police deputy chief, told Thanh Nien anyone found guilty of spreading rumors from the incident that would negatively affect security on the island would be dealt with according to law.

Banh also said the security on Phu Quoc Island has been stable thus far.

When residents found the metal debris on Tuesday, district authorities said they contacted airlines in Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand but did not receive immediate news of any missing aircraft.

Reported by Tien Trinh

SOURCE: Ufocasebook

VietNamNet Bridge – An unidentified flying object exploded at about 10a.,m on May 27 over the northern part of Phu Quoc Island, off the coast of the southern province of Kien Giang, according to Col. Nguyen Van Qui, military chief of the island district.

Many local residents found many grey metal pieces, including a 1,5m long piece.

The island district authorities quickly contacted airline companies in Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand, but as of 10p.m. the day, none had confirmed any of their flights having faced accidents.

The explosion happened at about 8km above the ground, and perhaps it was a plane, but authorities could not identify whether it was a civil or military aircraft.

The Phu Quoc Island People’s Committee mobilised local armed forces and residents to rescue duty.

SOURCE: Vietnam Net Bridge

Hanoi - A large unidentified flying object exploded over an island off southern Vietnam, and local officials said Wednesday they suspected it had been a military or civilian aircraft.

The explosion occurred Tuesday morning above Cua Can commune on Phu Quoc, a large island belonging to Vietnam just off the coast of Cambodia, according to Ngang Van Truyen, chairman of the commune.

"It was a huge explosion, and we thought at first that it was thunder," Truyen said. "But then we saw a 100-metre-long smoke trail in the sky and knew that it was the explosion of a flying object."

Truyen said people in the commune found six pieces of aluminum-like metal painted yellow-green on one side. The largest piece is more than 1 metre long and 50 centimetres wide. However, no markings or letters are found on the pieces.

"One of the pieces pierced the metal roof sheet of a house in the commune, but no one was injured," Truyen said. "We are searching the area to see if there are other pieces, or even bodies."

According to a military official of the district, who requested anonymity, there were no military planes operating in the area at the time of the explosion.

"We haven't identified what it is, but we suspect that it is a plane," the official said. "It could be either a military plane or a civilian plane, but I don't think it's a flying saucer."

According to Ngang Van Truyen, the metal pieces are curved, and no noise had been heard before the explosion.

Several of Vietnam's government-controlled newspapers Wednesday reported the incident, but none had any further information on the object, which suggests that it was not a Vietnamese military aircraft.

Recent accidents involving Vietnamese military aircraft, including the crash of a light transport plane in April that killed five pilots, have been openly reported in the Vietnamese press. (dpa)

SOURCE: Top News India

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