Tho Xuan Airport in Thanh Hoa province has temporarily suspended flight operations from 6:00 PM on June 16 to 6:00 AM on June 17 due to technical issues following the illegal intrusion of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

A representative from Tho Xuan Airport confirmed the halt was implemented for technical reasons, which require all incoming and outgoing flights to adjust their schedules during the closure period.

Previously, on June 13 and 14, authorities detected unauthorized drone activity near the airport, raising serious aviation safety concerns. The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) labeled the incident as complex, difficult to control, and a potential threat to civil aviation safety.

As a result, several Vietjet flights bound for Tho Xuan were diverted to Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi. Others faced delays, disrupting plans for numerous passengers.

From June 13 to the night of June 15, multiple Vietjet flights had to reroute due to strange flying objects appearing near Tho Xuan. In response, the CAAV urgently requested Tho Xuan Airport, the Northern Airports Authority, and the Thanh Hoa provincial government to investigate and identify those responsible for operating the UAVs, enforcing strict penalties in accordance with the law.

Military and local authorities are currently working to trace the operator of the drone(s) that violated restricted airspace near the airport.

The Thanh Hoa provincial government has also directed local officials to raise public awareness and encourage compliance with aviation safety regulations in communities surrounding the airport.

N. Huyen