One of the three people involved in the kite-flying case that disrupted operations at Tan Son Nhat Airport. Photo: Police
The incident at Tan Son Nhat International Airport began around 7:40 pm when air traffic controllers spotted objects initially suspected to be unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) near the Tham Luong bridge area.
To ensure safety, the Southern Airports Authority ordered a complete halt to all take-offs and landings starting at 8:05 pm.
The temporary 13-minute shutdown affected 21 flights, forcing one flight (VN595) to divert to Cam Ranh International Airport while 20 others were delayed on the ground or held in pattern, according to newswire VnExpress.
Investigation revealed the objects were three competition-sized kites equipped with strobe LED lights, measuring roughly 3.2 by 1.2 meters and flying at altitudes between 350 and 400 meters.
According to a source from Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper, police subsequently identified the kite operators, seized the relevant vehicle and equipment, and are handling the case in accordance with regulations.
The seized equipment includes a winch system mounted on a pickup truck used to control the kites from a location just 2.5 kilometers from the runway.
In the latest development, police said later on Friday they have summoned three individuals linked to the incident.
Authorities in Binh Hung Hoa Ward are collaborating with specialized units to evaluate the full extent of economic damage to process the suspects under the law.
One of the kites and its flyer. Photo: Contributor
Under current Vietnamese law, individuals flying kites or drones in restricted zones face administrative fines of up to VND40 million (US$1,570), though officials are now considering stricter criminal penalties for disruptions that cause significant economic damage to airlines.
Aviation experts note that even low-tech objects like kites can trigger maximum security protocols when spotted within restricted zones, which for Tan Son Nhat extends 5 kilometers wide and 15 kilometers long.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam recently acknowledged that airports currently lack specialized equipment to distinguish between harmless toys and high-risk drones, relying instead on visual confirmation and manual reporting.
This latest disruption follows a much larger crisis on August 11, when drone intrusions twice forced the airport to halt operations for nearly two hours, impacting over 60 flights.
A similar kite-related breach occurred at Cat Bi International Airport in Hai Phong on the night of March 15.
Pilots on two separate flights reported a 3.6-meter carbon kite flying at an altitude of 400 meters, coming within 60 meters of their aircraft during approach.
The airport was forced to suspend operations for four hours, resulting in four flights being diverted to Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport. Police identified the operator as a 28-year-old local resident from An Khanh, Hai Phong.
The kite was found to be equipped with traditional flutes and a multi-colored LED lighting system.
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