An air traffic controller has had his license revoked while many others were fined for their involvement in a near-collision between Vietnam Airlines and Jetstar Pacific aircraft.
The near-miss one of the most serious aviation incidents this year
On June 27, at Danang International Airport, a Jetstar Pacific plane was given permission to take off even though a Vietnam Airlines craft had not cleared the runway. The instruction was cancelled 12 seconds after pilot of Vietnam Airlines had informed the tower that they were still on the runway. The one who made the instruction was an intern air traffic controller. The number regular staff on duty in the control tower was also lower than required.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has since decided to revoke the license of Phan Nho Quang, the head air traffic controller working that day.
Quang was also fined a combined VND45 million (USD2,118) for four separate violations.
Many others who were involved in the incident were also fined. Truong Cong Tuan, head of the air traffic control centre at Danang International Airport, was fined VND15 million (USD706.21) for allowing an unlicensed air traffic controller to operate in the tower.
Ngo Xuan Vinh, deputy director of operations at the tower, was fined VND7.5 million (USD353.1) for lax supervision.
The Central Flight Management Company was fined VND30 million (USD1,412) for violating regulations on civil air traffic. Earlier, Tran Manh Sy, director of the company, had already been put on 15-day suspension for work violations.
The CAAV has requested that Minister of Transport Dinh La Thang reprimand Hoang Thanh, chairman of the Members Council and Do Quang Viet, general director of Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM).
Truong Nguyen Quynh Anh, an employee at VATM, has incurred an one-year extension of her probation period for issuing wrong directions.