Vietnam Airlines flight attendants questioned in Australia about large sum of money

Dinh Viet Thang, director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, said Saturday the airline management confirmed the incident.

But Australian authorities have not formally informed their Vietnamese counterparts, he said.

At around noon Australian time on May 23 the nine were interrogated after they were found to be carrying a lot of cash.

Eight were immediately sent back to Vietnam but one was detained until 6 p.m. and the person returned home the next day.

The CAAV said the incident was “not too serious” and so they had been allowed to return home without being held for further investigation.

Vietnam Airlines flight attendants at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi in 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Gia Chinh

A Vietnam Airlines spokesperson said flight crews and attendants are working normally, and the airline has asked Australian authorities for more information about the incident.

On June 14 Australia’s 7 News reported that the nine are suspected of money laundering after AUD60,000 ($41,600) were found divided and hidden in their luggage.

Australian laws require foreigners entering or leaving the country to make a declaration if they carry money worth AUD10,000 or more, with a failure to do so entailing fines and even imprisonment.