Hanoi (VNA) - Prolonged thunderstorms battered Noi Bai International Airport on the night and morning of October 7, forcing nearly 20 flights to circle in holding patterns and one to divert to an alternate airport, according to the Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM).
As heavy rain and thunderstorms reduced visibility to below one kilometre, with gusts reaching level 7 and wind shear reported near the runway area, the Air Traffic Flow Management Centre convened an urgent meeting to implement flow control measures.
Between 8 am and 11 am, the airport’s capacity to receive arriving aircraft was reduced to just five flights per hour to ensure absolute safety. In total, 17 flights had to be delayed landing within the Hanoi Area Control Centre’s (ACC Hanoi) and Noi Bai Approach Control Centre’s (APP Noi Bai) airspace.
Once weather conditions improved, all affected flights landed safely, and no aircraft were left holding.
VATM said it continues to direct its units to monitor weather developments, regularly update observation and meteorological forecast bulletins, especially short-term forecasts, and take timely response measures to ensure flight safety./.