Hanoi (VNA) – The CivilAviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has requested the Airports Corporation ofVietnam (ACV) conduct evaluation of security work at all airports nationwidefollowing a recent incident when a man boarded a plane without a boarding passat Vinh international airport.

In a document released on March5, the CAAV said it will review security procedures at all airports and conductsurprise inspections of the observance of aviation security regulations at someairports, including the Vinh airport, in March, with a view to draftingeffective solutions to enhancing aviation security.

The authority also asked allfirms in the sector to take a close look at their own security procedures andregulations and make proposals on adjustments and supplements (if any) beforeMarch 31.

On March 3, after all passengersboarded flight VN1265 from Vinh Airport (in the central province of Nghe An) toTan Son Nhat Airport (in Ho Chi Minh City), the chief flight attendant discoveredthat a man had got on the plane without a boarding pass.

The man was escorted off theplane by security staff. He was later found to be under treatment for mentaldisorder and released.

The CAAV said the incident poseda serious threat to aviation security and safety, even though it had not causedany serious consequence. The authority immediately sent a working group to theVinh airport to investigate the case.

The investigation revealed violationsof work procedures by security personnel and check-in counter staff members. Thesecurity technical infrastructure for security work also showed limitations.

According to the CAAV, the Vinhairport had failed to fulfill requirements in monitoring on-duty personnel andin assessing threats, risks and weak points in security work.

The authority decided to imposethe maximum fine of 40 million VND on the Vinh airport and issue a writtenwarning on the failure to fully comply to regulations and guidance on aviationtransport.

The four security staff membersinvolved in the incident were fined 10 million VND each and had their workinglicence suspended for two months. A staff member at the check-in counter wasfined 4 million VND for failing to observe working procedures.

The deputy director in charge ofsecurity matters of Vinh Airport received a written warning over the case.

The CAAV ordered regionalairport authorities, in coordination with airports, to hold meetings to discussand draw lessons from the incident, as well as to draft specific measures toprevent the recurrence of similar incidents. The measures should be reported tothe CAAV before March 10.-VNA