Four members of the original flight crew were guests at the introduction of the first Vietnamese film about a hijacking. The film, co-produced by the People's Police Cinema, is inspired by the 1978 hijacking of Vietnam Airlines DC4 flight 501, en route from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City.

At the event, the former pilot and flight attendants recalled the incident. Almost 50 years later, 76-year-old Pham Trung Nam, the flight's captain, said he still vividly remembers confronting the hijackers.

From right: Captain Pham Trung Nam, flight attendant Huynh Thu Cuc, flight attendant Ngo Kim Thanh, navigator Nguyen Van Huong - witnesses to the hijacking. Photo: Mai Nhat

From right: Captain Pham Trung Nam, flight attendant Huynh Thu Cuc, flight attendant Ngo Kim Thanh, navigator Nguyen Van Huong - witnesses to the hijacking. Photo: Mai Nhat

According to Mr. Nam, on June 28, 1978, about eight minutes after takeoff, at an altitude of nearly 3,000 m, the hijackers made their move. He suddenly heard banging on the cockpit door and the sound of gunfire. Realizing it was a hijacking, he immediately informed ground control and turned back towards Da Nang.

67-year-old Huynh Thu Cuc, a flight attendant at the time, was preparing meals when the curtain separating the passenger cabin from the service area was suddenly pulled aside. Ms. Cuc and flight attendant Ngo Kim Thanh were startled. Before they understood what was happening, a group of people pointed knives and guns at them. "We're dead, it's a hijacking," Ms. Cuc thought to herself.

Former flight attendant Thu Cuc recounts the moment the plane was hijacked. Video: Mai Nhat

Despite her fear, Ms. Cuc tried to remain calm to buy time for the pilots to devise a plan. Looking around, she realized the plane's security personnel had been subdued. When she tried to go down to the passenger cabin, the hijackers demanded, "Where are you going?". She convinced them to let her inform the passengers to prevent panic and maintain the plane's balance. However, the hijackers forced her to sit near the cockpit door with the security personnel.

Ms. Kim Thanh said the hijackers' goal was to enter the cockpit, overpower the pilots, and force them to fly to another country. However, she refused to knock on the cockpit door to protect the flight crew. Unable to coerce Ms. Thanh, one of the hijackers shot her four times in the leg. Ms. Cuc was also shot in the leg for refusing to call the pilots to open the door.

According to witnesses, during the 52-minute ordeal, the plane lurched repeatedly, passengers screamed, and chaos ensued. Several crew members were seriously injured but remained resolute in protecting the cockpit, allowing the captain to steer the plane back to Da Nang.

Mr. Nam said one of the most critical moments was when the plane returned to Da Nang airspace, descended, and prepared to land. Realizing he couldn't force open the cockpit door, one hijacker threw a grenade towards it, intending to take everyone down with him. However, the grenade bounced back and exploded at his feet, also blowing a large hole in the fuselage and damaging the landing gear.

"Despite the severe shaking and damage, we luckily landed safely, ensuring the passengers' safety," he said. Some hijackers died, and the rest were arrested after landing.

The flight crew of the hijacked plane in 1978. Archival photo

The flight crew of the hijacked plane in 1978. Archival photo

"Tu Chien Tren Khong" portrays a hijacking led by a character named Huy (played by Thai Hoa), along with his accomplices Ti (Vo Dien Gia Huy), Suu (Bao Dinh), and Dan (Ray Nguyen). To hijack a civilian aircraft and escape abroad, they take the passengers and crew hostage. A flight crew of nearly 10, including two flight attendants (played by Kaity Nguyen and Tram Anh), must fight back against the criminals and ensure the passengers' safety throughout the flight.

Lieutenant Colonel Tran Nam Chung, director of the People's Police Cinema, said the film was partly inspired by this event but doesn't completely recreate it. By choosing a topic never before explored in Vietnamese cinema, the studio aims to bring a fresh perspective to the industry.

"We want to portray the heroes who emerge in the most dangerous situations," the production representative said.

Teaser for "Tu Chien Tren Khong". Video: Provided by the film crew

In May, when the project was introduced, the team withheld the director's information, using the pseudonym Le Nhat Quang (another name for Ham Tran). He explained that he didn't reveal his involvement at the time because he wanted the public to focus on the film itself rather than the director's name. The film is scheduled for release in mid-September, after the 80th National Day celebrations.

Director Ham Tran, 51, whose real name is Tran Quang Ham, was born in Saigon and moved to the US with his family at the age of eight. In his youth, he studied directing, producing, screenwriting, and editing. His previous films include "Am Muu Giay Got Nhon," "Doat Hon," "Ban Gai Toi La Sep," and "That Son Tam Linh."

Mai Nhat