Vietnam Aviation Authority Warns After Drones, Kites Disrupt Noi Bai, Cat Bi Airports

Vietnam's aviation authority has voiced concerns after drones and kites disrupted operations at Noi Bai and Cat Bi airports on June 6 and 7. The incidents caused 35 flights to be delayed or rerouted, highlighting a significant safety risk.

At Noi Bai Airport, 28 flights were affected on June 6 due to drone activity, with 8 departures halted and 20 arrivals circling. The following day, kite flying near the runway forced 7 departures to delay. Cat Bi Airport also saw 3 flights impacted by kites with lights near its vicinity on June 7, leading to one departure delay and two diversions to Noi Bai.

The Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) stated that relevant agencies followed established procedures to manage the situation. However, the CAAV warned that such incidents could repeat, particularly during the summer holidays when students are more likely to fly kites. This poses a potential threat to flight safety.

To mitigate future risks, the CAAV has urged the Ministry of Construction to issue directives to provincial governments and relevant ministries. These directives aim to enhance public education on aviation safety regulations and encourage local authorities to collaborate with airport safety teams. The Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of Defense are also asked to designate specific points of contact for swift and effective handling of unauthorized drone and object activity near airports.

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However, the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam assesses that the drone and kite activities mentioned above could still recur, and the incidents have led to some flights being affected in their operations. This poses a potential risk to flight safety.