Regulations on the forces conducting interception, escort flights, and coercive landing for violating aircraft at airports and airfields in Vietnam

Regulations on the forces conducting interception, escort flights, and coercive landing for violating aircraft at airports and airfields in Vietnam (Image from the internet)

On October 24, 2024, the Government of Vietnam issued Decree 139/2024/ND-CP regulating the interception, escort flight, and coercive landing of violating aircraft over the airspace of Vietnam to land at airports.

Regulations on the forces conducting interception, escort flights, and coercive landing for violating aircraft at airports and airfields in Vietnam

Decree 139/2024/ND-CP applies to Vietnamese and foreign organizations and individuals engaged in civil aviation activities in Vietnam's airspace; agencies and units managing and operating airports in Vietnam.

Article 10 of Decree 139/2024/ND-CP stipulates the forces involved in conducting interception, escort flights, and coercive landing for violating aircraft at airports and airfields in Vietnam as follows:

(1) Aircraft and forces on combat duty standby of units under the Ministry of Defense and collaboration with civil aviation airport operation management forces.

(2) Based on specific situations related to each type of violating aircraft and the area of violation, the competent authority decides to use forces on combat duty standby in the relevant area for interception, escort, and coercive landing of violating aircraft.

Authority to Order interception, escort flights, and coercive landing for violating aircraft at airports and airfields in Vietnam

- The Minister of the Ministry of Defense orders the interception, escort, and coercive landing of aircraft violating Vietnam's airspace at airports.

- The Minister of the Ministry of Defense reports directly to the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam for decisions on interception, escort, and coercive landing for special mission aircraft violating Vietnam's airspace at airports.

(Article 11 Decree 139/2024/ND-CP)

Procedure for Handling Aircraft Violating Vietnam's Airspace in Vietnam

According to Article 12 Decree 139/2024/ND-CP, from December 9, 2024, handling of aircraft violating Vietnam's airspace will follow the procedure below:

(1) Entities managing the airspace and managing flight operations under the Air Defense - Air Force upon detecting or receiving information about an aircraft violating Vietnam's airspace

(i) Promptly report to their commander, upper command, and notify relevant civil aviation flight management units and cooperative agencies/units;

(ii) Upon order from the Minister of the Ministry of Defense, the Air Force executes interception, escort, and coercive landing of aircraft violating Vietnam's airspace at airports according to regulations in Articles 6 and 7 of Decree 139/2024/ND-CP;

(iii) If receiving information about violating aircraft from the Navy, Military Zones, or civil aviation air traffic management facilities, verify the information before implementing handling steps as per points (i) and (ii).

(2) Civil aviation flight operation centre at airports with violator aircraft landing

In case of deploying interception, escort, and coercive landing of aircraft violating Vietnam's airspace to land at a designated airport, the civil aviation flight operation centre carries out these tasks:

- Coordinate and cooperate with relevant military units during the interception, escort, and coercive landing of violator aircraft at airports;

- Establish communication with units directing the interception, escort, and coercive landing; maintain two-way communication with the aircraft involved in the operation and provide the aircraft with known information regarding the violating aircraft;

- Notify adjacent flight operation centres if the violating aircraft enters the responsibility area of that centre;

- Once the violating aircraft safely lands at the designated airport, guide the violating aircraft to taxi into the parking position.

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