Passengers on a delayed flight from Tuy Hòa Airport to HCM City's Tân Sơn Nhất Airport as the latter was suffering from inclement weather. — Photo from the Việt Nam Air Traffic Management Corporation

HCM CITY — Bad weather at Tân Sơn Nhất Airport, HCM City, on May 16 and 21 caused 12 flights to be delayed and seven to be diverted to the alternate airports.

According to the Việt Nam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM), the flights were unable to take off due to heavy rain with thunderstorms and strong winds, plus low visibility that dropped below the threshold for airport operation.

From around mid-May, the southern region enters rainy season, so unfavourable weather conditions which can affect flight operations occur more frequently and unpredictably.

According to the Tân Sơn Nhất Aviation Meteorological Centre, as the southwest monsoon tends to become stronger in the next several days, so showers, thunderstorms and gusty winds are forecasted in the morning for airports including Phú Quốc, Rạch Giá, Cà Mau, and Cần Thơ from May 25-29. Meanwhile, bad weather may occur at noon or afternoon at Tân Sơn Nhất, Buôn Ma Thuột, Liên Khương, and Côn Đảo airports.

In Việt Nam, bad weather is the cause of 50-60 per cent of incidents relating to flight operations in the annual aviation safety report. — VNS