3 men detained for flying kites near Vietnam's busiest airport Tan Son Nhat, disrupting 21 flights
Police in Ho Chi Minh City said on Aug. 14 that they have detained three people for questioning over the release of flying objects that threatened aviation safety and forced Tan Son Nhat International Airport to temporarily suspend take-offs and landings.
On August 13, three men - Than Van Tan, 42, Ton Van Chinh, 47, and Tran Vo Hong Phat, 26 - were detained for flying kites near Vietnam's busiest airport, Tan Son Nhat. The kites were equipped with flashing lights and caused disruptions to 21 flights. The men launched the kites from an open area within Tan Binh Industrial Park and met through a Facebook group for flute-kite enthusiasts.
At around 7:40 p.m. on the day, airport officials detected unidentified objects near Tham Luong Bridge, which were later identified as the kites. Due to safety concerns, all take-offs and landings were suspended temporarily. Aircraft preparing to land were placed in holding patterns, while departing flights were grounded. Flights resumed at 8:16 p.m. after authorities deemed the situation safe.
The incident resulted in a 14-minute suspension that caused disruptions to 21 flights. Authorities searched for the origin of the objects and found the three flashing-light kites launched from an open area about 2.5 km from the airport. The kites reached heights of around 400 meters, entering the airspace reserved for aircraft approaching for landing.
The three men were taken into custody for questioning to determine if any charges would be filed. The airport had previously experienced two suspensions of take-offs and landings on August 11 due to sightings of unmanned aerial vehicles in the approach area. Authorities have warned the public to avoid flying kites, balloons, operating drones, or releasing free-flying objects near airports to prevent potential serious aviation incidents.
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