Thousands stranded at Da Nang Airport as storm Bualoi disrupts flights

As reported by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper’s reporters, more than 30 domestic flights were delayed between 4:30 pm and 6:30 pm, with over half operated by national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines.

Many flights scheduled for early afternoon were pushed to the evening, while some were canceled.

By 4:45 pm, electronic departure boards showed most flights between noon and 2:00 pm had been delayed by two to six hours.

Vu Thi Vi Khanh from Ho Chi Minh City, who was booked on VietJet Air flight VJ1627 at 3:30 pm, said the airline repeatedly announced delays lasting more than four hours each.

“I arrived at the airport around noon due to concerns about the heavy rain, but I ended up waiting over eight hours. It’s exhausting, but there’s no choice but to stay,” she said.

Other passengers voiced similar frustration after being stranded at the airport for hours.

“We got to the airport around noon and still don’t know when we will fly. Children are tired, adults are stressed with work piling up, and we’re unsure if we’ll even get home tonight,” said Hong Nhung, a passenger bound for Hanoi.

Vietnam Airlines counters were crowded with passengers seeking updates, some visibly anxious and pushing to speak with staff.

Seating areas overflowed, forcing many travelers, including foreigners, to sit on the floor or lean against their luggage.

Children dozed on suitcases, while adults kept checking the departure boards.

Airport shops were also packed with stranded passengers.

Earlier, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam had warned of severe impacts from storm Bualoi.

To minimize disruption, it directed the Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation to suspend aircraft acceptance at several airports, including Da Nang, which halted operations from 6:00 am to 11:00 am on Sunday.

However, even after services resumed, many flights to and from Da Nang still faced difficulties due to heavy rain.

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, storm Bualoi made landfall in Nghe An and Ha Tinh Provinces in north-central Vietnam early Monday, with maximum winds of 102 kph.

The storm is moving west-northwest at 20 kph and is expected to weaken into a tropical depression within 12 hours before further downgrading into a low-pressure system.