Vietnam holds airport drone response drill after Tan Son Nhat disruptions

The national flag carrier said on Tuesday that it conducted the drill with the Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM) and Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV).

Under the simulated scenario, a drone entered an airport area, affecting aircraft in the air and on the ground, approaching airspace, runways, aircraft stands, terminals, ground services, flight crews, and passengers.

The participating agencies practiced procedures for receiving, verifying, and sharing information, assessing risks, implementing safety measures, regulating air traffic, and adjusting flight operations.

VATM was tasked with managing air traffic flows and coordinating with airport control units, while ACV handled operations at airside areas, aircraft stands, and terminals.

Vietnam Airlines developed contingency plans involving alternate airports, schedule adjustments, crew arrangements, and passenger support in the event of delays, holding patterns, or diversions.

The main exercise lasted more than three hours, from 2:00 pm to 5:05 pm, using simulated video footage and flight data kept separate from actual operating systems.

Vietnam Airlines said the country’s aviation sector recorded 22 drone-related incidents that directly affected operations and another 18 posing potential risks in the first seven months of 2026.

Unauthorized drones near airports can force runway closures, aircraft holding, or flight diversions, causing delays, additional costs, and disruption to passengers.

On August 11, drone sightings near Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City forced authorities to suspend take-offs and landings twice, affecting an estimated 60 flights and around 12,000 passengers.

It marked one of the most significant operational disruptions at Vietnam's busiest airport in recent years.

Two days later, airport authorities again temporarily halted operations after detecting an object suspected to be a drone near Tham Luong Bridge, west of the airport.

Investigators later determined that the objects were three kites fitted with flashing lights and launched from a vacant lot inside Tan Binh Industrial Park.

The 13-minute suspension delayed eight departing flights and affected seven arrivals, while Vietnam Airlines flight VN595 was diverted to Cam Ranh International Airport in south-central Khanh Hoa Province.

Vietnam Airlines said the drill results would be used to review coordination mechanisms, communication channels, and response plans, with the aim of shortening response times, ensuring safety, and restoring normal operations as quickly as possible.