Turbulent Times for Vietnam Airlines

In a startling turn of events, Vietnam Airlines has placed four pilots on suspension following a dramatic collision between two of its aircraft at Hanoi's Noi Bai Airport on June 27.

The Bump That Shook the Runway

The incident unfolded around 2 PM local time as a Boeing 787 was preparing for take-off to Ho Chi Minh City. While navigating through the busy intersection of taxiways S3 and S, the plane's right wing tip unexpectedly struck the vertical stabilizer of an Airbus A321, which was on standby for its flight to Dien Bien.

Damage and Disruption

The collision caused significant damage: the Boeing 787's wing tip was compromised, and the Airbus A321 suffered a tear in its tail fin. Both aircraft were grounded for immediate technical inspections, leading to a scramble for replacement planes to accommodate over 380 stranded passengers.

Investigations Underway

In a proactive move, Vietnam Airlines suspended two pilots from each flight crew involved in the mishap while an internal investigation unfolds. An independent team has also been dispatched to work alongside the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) to thoroughly investigate the circumstances leading to the accident.

A Serious Incident on the Aviation Safety Scale

The CAAV has classified this collision as a level B serious incident — the second highest classification, indicating a major safety breach that necessitated temporary closures of the runway and taxiway.

Preliminary Findings and Accountability

Initial investigations suggest that the Airbus A321 was not positioned correctly at its designated holding point on taxiway S3 when the collision occurred. Vietnam Airlines has committed to cooperating fully with aviation authorities to identify those responsible and to implement measures to prevent such incidents in the future.