On 17/8, the Government Office announced a directive from Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc, focusing on enhancing the management of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and bolstering aviation security and safety. This directive follows two consecutive incidents that disrupted operations at Tan Son Nhat airport.

The Ministry of National Defense and local authorities are tasked with publicly announcing no-fly zones. They must also strengthen the management of domestic UAV research, design, and manufacturing facilities. The use of UAVs requires management and supervision through licensing for both the aircraft and its operators.

All organizations and individuals owning UAVs must declare their devices. The government has set a target for 2030: all domestic UAVs will be digitally identified, electronically licensed, and their flight paths monitored in real time.

The Ministry of Public Security is responsible for investigating and strictly penalizing incidents involving UAVs and other objects that have disrupted flight operations at airports recently. Additionally, the ministry must develop strategies to counter UAVs that illegally penetrate critical areas, no-fly zones, and airports, preventing future recurrences.

The Deputy Prime Minister also called for finalizing the operational regulations of the National Committee for Aviation Security and Facilitation. This includes standardizing prevention and response plans for incidents involving UAVs and other objects.

Homes clustered near Tan Son Nhat airport, photographed from a helicopter. *Dinh Quan*

The Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Finance are jointly responsible for regulating imported and temporarily imported-for-re-export UAVs. They will review and finalize all relevant conditions and regulations. This management framework aims to control the origin, type, intended use, and other security and safety factors of these devices.

The Ministry of Science and Technology is tasked with establishing technical and technological standards for UAV manufacturing, repair, maintenance, and testing. The ministry will also explore integrating no-fly zone data directly into UAV devices to automatically prevent them from entering restricted airspace.

These measures come in response to recent disruptions at Tan Son Nhat airport. On the evening of 11/8, two instances of illegal UAV activity were detected within Tan Son Nhat airport's controlled airspace. This forced the airport to suspend takeoffs and landings for over two hours, leading to significant delays and rerouting for numerous flights.

Three days later, three individuals were found flying kites with flashing lights at an altitude of approximately 400 meters. These kites entered Tan Son Nhat airport's safety corridor, impacting 21 flights.

Vu Tuan