The Vietnam Civil Aviation Administration imposed a 10 million dong fine ($500) on a passenger flying from Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc Island for joking that he carried a grenade.
According to aviation authorities, while security staff scanned luggage for a Ho Chi Minh City-Phu Quoc flight on April 2, Le Tran Toan kidded that there was a grenade in his bag. Guards then detained the man for a full body search and luggage check, plus filing a report about the incident.
Toan was fined 10 million dong for the hoax in accordance with a State decree on aviation security, under which anyone who provides inaccurate information that affects civil aviation activities can be fined from 10-20 million dong.
At least 8 passengers have been penalised for similar jokes since 2006. In December 2006, two men had to pay up to 500 million dong for comments like Toan’s. All of these people are also banned for life from Vietnam Airlines flights.
