Vietnam’s air authorities urge pilots to fully follow SOPs after Hanoi airport collision

This directive, detailed in an official dispatch to airlines and relevant units, is part of enhanced safety measures outlined in response to the incident, which damaged both aircraft but caused no injuries.

Accordingly, pilots must thoroughly understand and consistently execute SOPs, with particular attention during taxiing, take-off, and landing.

Before each flight, crews must discuss taxi routes, reference the latest airport charts, and determine clear tasks during taxi operations.

They are urged to strengthen internal checks and performance assessments, along with SOP reviews to continuously improve safety.

While taxiing, pilots should heighten their vigilance and proactively identify critical intersections, narrow taxiways, or congested zones.

Should any doubt arise regarding the aircraft's safe separation from obstacles, they must halt immediately and notify air traffic control (ATC).

It is imperative for pilots to accurately listen to, repeat, and affirm ATC instructions. If any clearance is unclear, the crew must seek clarification before proceeding.

Pilots must focus on tasks ensuring flight safety and are explicitly prohibited from using personal devices to take photographs or videos during critical operations.

The CAAV also required ATC staff to maintain comprehensive monitoring of all aircraft movements using support equipment and visual references such as beacons and terrain.

They must enable swift detection of any irregularities—particularly aircraft stopped in inappropriate locations or deviating from designated taxiways.

Air controllers are urged to issue instructions precisely and in full, repeating them twice if pilots display uncertainty, to ensure full understanding before execution.

Airport operators are required to intensify inspections of signage, taxiway markings, and lighting systems, ensuring the full operational status of these systems is maintained to support safe ground navigation.

The directive followed an incident at 2:23 pm on Friday, when the right wingtip of a Boeing 787-9, with 259 passengers on board, clipped the vertical stabilizer of an Airbus A321, carrying 127 people, on a taxiway at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi.

Both aircraft, operated by national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, were taxiing for departure under clear weather conditions and good visibility.

Preliminary findings by the Northern Airports Authority suggest the Airbus may have stopped short of its designated holding point, contributing to the collision.

The Boeing's wingtip was damaged, while the Airbus sustained a tear in its vertical stabilizer.

The incident caused no injuries nor major disruption to other flights.

Vietnam Airlines and the CAAV have each established dedicated investigation teams to determine the root cause of the incident.

Meanwhile, the licenses of the four pilots involved with the two planes have been temporarily suspended, and their flight operations halted pending the outcome of the investigations.