HCMC – The Northern Airports Authority has imposed a fine of VND2 million on a male passenger who used a lighter to burn tissue paper on Flight VN243 of Vietnam Airlines on November 2.
The flight had earlier been scheduled to leave Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi for Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCMC at 8 a.m. in the day, the local media reported.
When the plane taxied from the apron to the runway for takeoff, a flight attendant discovered the passenger in Seat 20A burning tissue paper.
On being discovered, the man quickly put out the flame and caused no damages to the flight. However, the flight crew immediately decided to return to the apron and handed over the passenger to airport security officials.
According to the Northern Airports Authority, the passenger violated instructions on aviation order, security and safety.
Answering a question on whether passengers are allowed to carry lighters on board, a representative of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam said each passenger is allowed to carry a lighter using absorbable liquid fuels or a pack of safety matches with him/her onboard. However, these items are not allowed in their carry-on and check-in baggage, as there are many kinds of automatic lighters, which are likely to cause fire and an explosion.
