Man fined $150 over bomb hoax at Vietnam airport

The Northern Airports Authority (NAA) announced on Tuesday an administrative fine of VND4 million ($153) against N.C.H., 38, who had arrived at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on a flight from Malaysia a day earlier.

As passengers were disembarking, a flight attendant noticed H. carrying a black rectangular box and asked about it.

The man replied that the box contained a bomb.

The flight attendant immediately reported the incident to authorities, and airport police temporarily seized H. and his hand baggage for clarification.

The man admitted that he had made a joke due to poor awareness of airline safety.

A thorough inspection of the man and his belongings was conducted and no explosives were found.

Inspectors confirmed that the black box contained only a computer keyboard and a mouse.

Based on prevailing regulations, the NAA issued the aforementioned administrative fine on H..

According to the emergency response team at Noi Bai Airport, this case was less disruptive because the joke was made after the aircraft had already landed.

If the same hoax had occurred before a plane departed, the handling process would have been much more complicated.

On this occasion, airport authorities remind passengers never to joke about bombs, weapons, terrorism, or any safety-sensitive content when traveling by air.