On 14/8, Binh Hung Hoa ward police summoned Than Van Tan (42), Ton Van Chinh (47), and Tran Vo Hong Phat (26) for questioning regarding their actions that affected aviation.

Authorities identified Tan as the owner of the kites and the one who released them.

The kite flyer and seized evidence. *Photo: Police provided*

According to authorities, on the evening of 13/8, a flying object affected takeoff and landing operations at Tan Son Nhat. Tan Son Nhat international airport border police immediately coordinated with other units to locate it.

Authorities identified the object obstructing the airspace as three bamboo flute kites with flashing lights. They were flying at an altitude of approximately 400 meters, entering the clear zone designated for approaching aircraft.

The location where Tan's group released the kites was identified as an empty lot bordering Tan Binh industrial park, in Binh Hung Hoa ward, about 2,5 km from the airport.

At the police station, Tan admitted to the act. He stated that the lot is a common spot for kite flying, and social media groups exist for bamboo flute kite enthusiasts in TP HCM.

Tan Son Nhat international airport border police are coordinating with TP HCM police's professional units to assess damages and strengthen the case for prosecuting those involved.

The three kites obstructing the airspace prompted the air traffic flow coordination center to temporarily restrict flights departing from other airports to Tan Son Nhat. Some aircraft from Pleiku (Gia Lai), Da Nang, and Cam Ranh (Khanh Hoa), which were en route, were directed to hold in appropriate areas to ensure safety.

The incident lasted over 10 minutes, directly affecting 21 flights. After authorities coordinated with local military units to address the violations, airport operations returned to normal.

Tan Son Nhat airport is located north of TP HCM, about 8 km from the city center. Situated within an urban area, aviation operations here have previously been affected by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), kites, and lasers.

Most recently, on 8/11, UAVs twice entered the restricted zone, causing over 100 flights to be delayed or have their departure times changed, affecting over 10.000 passengers.

Besides Tan Son Nhat, many other airports have also been affected by flying objects appearing near operational areas. In June, an unmanned aerial vehicle appeared near Noi Bai, delaying 16 flights.

Previously, in March, a UAV appeared near Cat Bi airport's landing approach area, disrupting operations for about 4 hours and causing 4 flights to be diverted to Noi Bai. Da Nang airport has also recorded numerous instances of UAVs appearing in its flight path.

According to Decree 123/2021 and 17/2026, individuals flying kites or operating unmanned aerial vehicles (including drones and flycams) in restricted areas, causing an impact on aviation, can face fines of up to 40 million dong.

Quoc Thang