Aircraft were intercepted when they violated Vietnam's airspace.

Kinhtedothi - The Government issued Decree No. 139/2024/ND-CP dated October 24, 2024 stipulating procedures for intercepting, accompanying, and forcing aircraft violating Vietnam's airspace to land at airports.

Offending aircraft are intercepted and escorted.

The Decree clearly states that aircraft are intercepted when they violate Vietnam's airspace.

Aircraft are escorted when there is a violation of flight permission.

Decree stipulating that aircraft intercepting or approaching aircraft violating Vietnam's airspace shall be carried out in the following manner:

The intercepting or accompanying aircraft shall approach the violating aircraft from the left or right rear, in accordance with maneuvering and observation conditions; then establish an appropriate speed and distance to ensure safety, issue signs, signals and actions; and at the same time ensure that the pilot (flight crew) of the violating aircraft can receive signs, signals and actions from the intercepting or accompanying aircraft.

After the violating aircraft receives the necessary information and stops the violation, the intercepting and accompanying aircraft leave the area.

Cases of aircraft being forced to land

At the same time, the Decree also clearly states that aircraft are forced to land at airports if they fall into one of the following two cases:

1- Aircraft flying in Vietnam's airspace was illegally interfered with.

2- Aircraft violating Vietnam's airspace are intercepted or accompanied but do not comply with the actions of the Vietnam People's Army aircraft that are intercepting or accompanying.

The Decree stipulates that aircraft flying to approach aircraft violating Vietnam's airspace shall be implemented in the following manner:

The aircraft shall approach the violating aircraft from the left or right rear, in accordance with maneuvering and observation conditions; then establish an appropriate speed and distance to ensure safety, issue signs, signals and actions; and at the same time ensure that the pilot (crew) of the violating aircraft can receive signs, signals and actions requesting landing at the designated airport or aerodrome.

After the violating aircraft lands safely at the designated airport or aerodrome, the aircraft must force its way out of the area or land under the orders of the military flight commander.

Forces performing interception flights, accompanying flights, and forcing aircraft to land at airports

The Decree stipulates that the forces performing interception, escort, and forcing aircraft to land at airports are: Aircraft, forces on combat duty of units under the Ministry of National Defense, and the coordination of the forces managing civil aviation flight operations.

Based on the specific situation of each type of violating aircraft and the violating area, the competent authority shall decide to use the force on combat duty in the appropriate area to intercept, accompany, or force the violating aircraft to land.

Conditions of designated airports

The Decree also stipulates the conditions for designated airports and airfields. Accordingly, airports and airfields must meet the technical conditions to ensure that the violating aircraft can land; the terrain of the airport area is suitable for circling and approaching the airport area to land; and the violating aircraft has enough fuel to reach the designated airport to land. Priority is given to landing at airports with civil aviation activities.

The Decree also clearly states that when an aircraft violates the order of an intercepting, accompanying, or forcing aircraft to land at a designated airport or airfield, causing a risk of causing insecurity to an important target or affecting national defense and security, the handling shall be carried out in accordance with the regulations on handling air defense combat situations of the Ministry of National Defense.

This Decree comes into force from December 9, 2024.

Source: https://kinhtedothi.vn/tau-bay-bi-bay-chan-khi-co-hanh-dong-vi-pham-vung-troi-viet-nam.html