Laser shined at foreign plane on landing at Noi Bai Airport
The pilot of Swiss-based Vistajet Airline has complained that a laser beam was flashed into the cockpit while his plane was landing at Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi.
Flight VJT813 was 9.7km away from the runway when the crew noticed a laser beam flashed into the cockpit from the right of the plane.
According to the crew, the light source was located about 4.8km away from the airport.
The pilot has reported and asked the managers of the airport to control the situation.
After receiving the report, the Northern Airport Authority tried to call Hanoi and Vinh Phuc Province police but no one accepted the calls.
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They had to inform Noi Bai airport police station to investigate.
This is not the first time planes at Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat airports are hit by lasers.
Last year, the National Civil Aviation Security Committee ordered to tightened management around airports after a series of lasers were flashed at planes during landing at Noi Bai Airport.
Lasers can cause permanent eye damage, blind the pilots and lead to loss of control over the plane.
Landing is an important part of the flight and requires concentration from the pilots so flashing laser beams at planes are a serious violation of flight safety regulations.
The National Civil Aviation Security Committee has asked various agencies include anti-terrorism steering committee, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Vinh Phuc Province police to carry out preventive measures to ensure aviation safety.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam proposed criminal charges for those that flash laser beams at planes.
Violators should be fined VND30m (US$1,300) to VND100m and face one to five years of imprisonment if they affect the pilot’s health or lead to death.
