Vietnam: Shining laser beams at airplanes and airports shall be fined up to VND 40 million

According to the Vietnam Aviation Administration, the act of shining a laser beam at an aircraft during takeoff and landing affects the pilot's operations and seriously threatens flight safety and may cause particularly serious consequences for the lives and health of pilots and passengers on the flight.

Previously, Decree No. 147/2013/NĐ-CP of Vietnam’s Government on administrative penalties for civil aviation offenses did not stipulate penalties for shining laser beams at aircraft and airports.

Realizing that this act may cause serious consequences, Decree No. 162/2018/NĐ-CP dated November 30, 2018 of Vietnam’s Government on administrative penalties for civil aviation offenses, which replaces Decree No. 147/2013/NĐ-CP, supplements penalties for this act. Specifically, according to Point k Clause 5 Article 9 of Decree No. 162/2018/NĐ-CP:

5. A fine ranging from VND 30,000,000 (thirty million) to VND 40,000,000 (forty million) shall be imposed for committing one of the following violations:

k) Using laser lights in an airport or aerodrome or its vicinity which interferes with the takeoff, landing or moving of an aircraft in such airport or aerodrome;

However, in recent times, detecting and handling the above behavior has been difficult when compact laser beam devices such as pens and children's toys are sold in many places, and the laser beam irradiator is only temporary and difficult to detect for immediate handling. Therefore, people must consciously obey the law and not shine laser beams into airport or aircraft areas, causing serious consequences for aircraft taking off and landing.

In addition to the act of shining laser beams at aircraft and airports, acts such as threatening, insulting, and assaulting airline staff and flight crew members also occur a lot at airports across the country, which cause disorder and loss of public image at the airport. These acts are also subject to administrative penalties as prescribed in Article 26 of Decree No. 162/2018/NĐ-CP, specifically as follows:

4. A fine ranging from VND 3,000,000 (three million) to VND 5,000,000 (five million) shall be imposed for committing one of the following violations:

h) Using rude gestures and/or words to provoke, tease or insult aviation staff, passengers or other persons at an airport or aerodrome;

i) Threatening or reviling aviation staff or passengers on board an aircraft;

k) Hiring, persuading or inciting other people to fight each other or getting involved in a fight at an airport or aerodrome but the violation is not serious enough to cause the violating entity to face a criminal prosecution.

5. A fine ranging from VND 7,000,000 (seven million) to VND 10,000,000 (ten million) shall be imposed for committing one of the following violations:

b) Attacking aviation staff, passenger or other people at an airport or aerodrome or at place where the civil aviation building or equipment is located but the violation is not serious enough to cause the violating entity to face a criminal prosecution;

d) Disrupting, inciting or persuading other people to cause disruption to security and order on board an aircraft but the violation is not serious enough to cause the violating entity to face a criminal prosecution;

l) Hiring, persuading or inciting other people to fight each other or getting involved in a fight on board an aircraft but the violation is not serious enough to cause the violating entity to face a criminal prosecution;

n) Using rude gestures and/or words to provoke, tease or insult aviation staff or passengers on board an aircraft but the violation is not serious enough to cause the violating entity to face a criminal prosecution.

6. A fine ranging from VND 10,000,000 (ten million) to VND 15,000,000 (fifteen million) shall be imposed for committing one of the following violations:

b) Attacking flight crew members, passengers or other people on board an aircraft but the violation is not serious enough to cause the violating entity to face a criminal prosecution.

Le Hai

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