Brian Jeffrey
Initial investigations reveal that the aircraft incident at Noi Bai International Airport on June 27 transpired because an Airbus A321 did not properly align with its designated parking area.
Around 2:23 PM on June 27, two aircraft collided while taxiing on the runway at Noi Bai International Airport.
The Boeing 787, designated VN7205 and registered as VN-A863, was en route from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City when its right wing brushed against the tail of a parked Airbus A321 (VN-A338), which was scheduled for flight VN1804 heading to Dien Bien from Hanoi.
In a statement to VietNamNet, Uong Viet Dung, the Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, indicated that the authority took immediate action upon learning of the incident, directing involved teams to conduct an inspection and report their findings.
The Northern Airport Authority reported that the accident took place at the junction of taxiways S3 and S. Initial on-site evaluations indicated the following:
The Airbus A321 (VN-A338), set to depart at 1:55 PM for Dien Bien, was moving from stand 29 along taxiways S and S3, holding short of runway 11R/29L on taxiway S3 to prepare for an intersection takeoff.
Concurrently, the Boeing 787 (VN-A863), scheduled to depart at 2:00 PM for Ho Chi Minh City, was taxiing from stand 55 via taxiways S and S1 towards the holding point for runway 11R/29L on taxiway S1.
As the Boeing 787 arrived at the crossroad of taxiways S and S3, its right wingtip collided with the tail fin of the Airbus A321. At that moment, the weather was clear and visibility was good.
The Northern Airport Authority concluded that the primary cause of the collision was the Airbus A321’s failure to stop at the designated spot.
This incident resulted in damage to the right wingtip of the Boeing 787 and to the vertical stabilizer of the Airbus A321, with debris from both aircraft located at the site.
Both aircraft were taken out of operation for detailed inspections. Flight VN1804 was carrying 127 passengers, while VN7205 had 259 passengers aboard. All luggage was returned to Terminal 1.
In the aftermath, Noi Bai Airport coordinated with relevant agencies to document the situation, safely tow the aircraft, and clear the taxiways S and S3.
Air traffic control worked closely with involved parties to manage air traffic, ensuring that operations continued without interruptions.
Noi Bai International Airport also undertook environmental assessments and cleaned the affected taxiways to maintain safe conditions.
The Boeing 787 (VN-A863) was relocated to stand 44, and the Airbus A321 (VN-A338) was moved to stand 76 to allow passengers to disembark.
A representative from Vietnam Airlines confirmed that emergency protocols were activated quickly post-incident to secure the safety of all passengers and crew. Affected travelers received assistance and were rebooked on alternative flights to continue their journeys.
