Four flights scheduled to land at Cat Bi International Airport in Hai Phong were diverted and two others delayed after a large bamboo flute kite with flashing lights was spotted dangerously close to the flight path on 15/3. Airport operations were restored by 0h30 on 16/3, following the incident.
According to Cat Bi International Airport, around 20h15 on 15/3, the airport duty officer received information from the co-pilot of flight VJ280 from TP HCM to Hai Phong. The co-pilot observed an unmanned flying object very close to the flight path during its approach for landing, prompting immediate action from authorities.
Immediately afterward, the airport, along with the Hai Phong City Military Command and local police, organized a search for the flying object. By 20h57, authorities pinpointed and discovered the kite flown by residents in Tien Lap village, An Khanh commune (formerly An Lao). The kite was 260 cm long and 100 cm wide, equipped with 14 bamboo flutes and multicolored flashing lights, flying at an altitude of about 400 m with a line about 900 m long.
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Cat Bi Airport in TP Hai Phong. Photo: Xuan Hoa |
Authorities recorded the incident and seized the evidence. An Khanh ward police are determining the extent of damage from the violation for processing. Such incidents highlight the risks posed by unauthorized aerial objects near airports.
Similar incidents have occurred at other Vietnamese airports. Previously, on 17/2 and 22/2, drones violated the flight safety corridor at Da Nang International Airport, causing 54 flights to be delayed, awaiting takeoff or landing. From 13-15/6/2025, Tho Xuan Airport (Thanh Hoa) experienced UAV presence in the flight zone during the evening, leading to multiple flight diversions and temporary airport closure.
The Civil Air Defense Law strictly prohibits operating UAVs, releasing balloons, kites, shining laser lights, or using high-power light sources within the airport's sterile air safety corridor. Authorities advise individuals, organizations, and businesses to strictly comply with regulations and not use flycams in no-fly zones, emphasizing the importance of aviation safety.
Le Tan
