Vietnam flight delayed by grenade scare

The Central Airports Authority said that at 3:15 p.m. on Sunday, the crew of Vietnam Airlines flight VN131 flight, which was supposed to depart for HCMC from Da Nang International Airport, reported that a male passenger said there was a grenade “inside the luggage.”

Flight attendants then reported the matter to the captain, which suspended the passenger from flying. The flight was supposed to take off at 3:25 p.m., but had to be delayed.

Airport security personnel then re-checked all belongings on the plane, and the plane itself. They made sure to recheck the belongings of the family of four that the man who sounded the alarm was traveling with.

The check was completed by 4:40 p.m. the same day, and no dangerous items or security anomalies were found on the plane.

The male passenger was brought to the Central Airports Authority headquarters for questioning. The flight eventually took off at 5:15 p.m.

Inspectors said on Monday that they were completing documents to fine the passenger.

Those who falsely spread news about the presence of guns, bullets, bombs, explosives, radioactive materials and biochemical weapons on flights may be fined up to VND40 million ($1,579) in accordance with Vietnamese regulations. They can also be criminally charged with obstructing aviation traffic in certain cases.