Many flight safety incidents due to "strange objects
According to information from Hai Phong City, recently, a number of cases have appeared in the area that potentially affect flight safety in the Cat Bi International Airport area.
According to the pilot's reflection, during approaching the runway, unidentified flying objects such as kites, flying equipment of unknown origin were detected; high-power light sources, laser lights, as well as the situation of burning waste affecting aviation operations...
Statistics from the City Police, in the fourth quarter of 2025, there were 25 flights when approaching the take-off and landing axis and detecting kites in the areas of Kien An, Phu Lien and Hung Dao wards.
On February 23, 2026, in the period from 21:34 to 23:45, flights VN1186, VJ280, VN1518 when landing, detected flying objects suspected to be kites or glowing unmanned aerial vehicles, appearing about 8km away from the wheel touch point, at an altitude of about 400m in Hung Dao ward.
Due to the impact, flight VN1186 had to divert to land at Noi Bai International Airport. On the same day, flight QH1545 when preparing to take off also detected an unidentified flying object with a blue light in the Phu Lien ward area, forcing the flight to be delayed by about 15 minutes.
Most recently, on the evening of March 15, flights VJ280 and VN1186 continued to detect flying objects emitting colorful light in the Kien An ward area. Functional forces quickly verified and determined that these were kites released by people; and made records and seized them for handling according to regulations. The incident affected 5 flights, including 1 international flight and 4 domestic flights that had to fly to wait or divert to land at Noi Bai, with a delay time of 150-360 minutes.
In addition, from the beginning of 2025 to now, 8 cases of pilots reflecting being affected by laser lights when approaching landing have been recorded; and at the same time, the situation of people burning garbage near the beginning of the runway has been detected, posing a potential risk of aviation unsafety.
Strictly handle violations
Faced with the above situation, Standing Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee Le Anh Quan has just issued instructions in Document 2863/VP-NC requesting relevant agencies, units, and localities to seriously implement measures to ensure aviation safety and security based on their functions, tasks, and management scope.
In which, continue to thoroughly grasp and effectively implement the directions of the City People's Committee in Plan No. 266/KH-UBND dated September 30, 2025 on strengthening measures to ensure aviation safety and security in the city and Official Dispatch No. 430/UBND-NC dated March 10, 2026 on strengthening safety assurance for flight operations at Cat Bi International Airport.
The Standing Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee requested to promote propaganda and dissemination of laws on aviation safety and security and people's air defense to people through grassroots broadcasting systems and appropriate forms, in order to raise awareness and proactively prevent acts affecting flight safety.
People's Committees of communes and wards located in the take-off and landing axis including: Hai An, Dong Hai, Hung Dao, Duong Kinh, Phu Lien, Kien An, Thuy Nguyen, An Khanh, Tien Lang drastically implement measures to prevent and handle the situation of using high-power light sources, laser lights, kites, sky lanterns, flycams and other aircraft affecting aviation operations. At the same time, strengthen supervision and handle obstacles violating regulations on vertical height, threatening flight safety at Cat Bi International Airport.
Localities closely coordinate with the City Police, the City Military Command, representatives of the Airport Authority in Cat Bi and Cat Bi International Airport in ensuring security, order and aviation safety; promptly detect and strictly handle violations.
The City Police and the City Military Command proactively coordinate with relevant units and city press agencies to strengthen propaganda. Along with that, firmly grasp the situation, detect and promptly handle risks of flight unsafety in accordance with the law.
