Flight attendant attackers to face high fines

A new decree on aviation which will take effect next year stipulates that assaults on air crew-members may face fines of up to VND20m (USD861).

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Resolution 162 will take effect on January 15, 2019. It states that anyone who was found insulting, threatening and attacking crew members or other passengers at the airport but it is not serious enough to be criminal offences will be fined from VND3m (USD129) to VND5m. Those who cause disorder, do not follow procedures or insult the staff and other passengers on the plane will be fined from VND7m to VND10m.

A fine of VND15m (USD646) to VND20m will be applied to those who board the plane illegally, attack staff or the passengers, transport flammable devices or weapons used in sports into restricted areas but are not serious enough to be criminal offences.

Several assaults against the flight crew were reported this year.

In November, three passengers were prosecuted after attacking a staff member at Tho Xuan Airport in Thanh Hoa Province after the staff member refused to take part in a photo. In July, a passenger was fined VND15m (USD644) after hitting a Jetstar Pacific flight attendant before take-off of a Vinh-HCM City flight. He couldn't find empty space on the shelf for his three pieces of luggage near his seat and became annoyed.