HÀ NỘI — The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines today said a ground incident in Moscow has caused damage to its Boeing airplane destined for Hà Nội, resulting in delayed flight. 

The flight numbered VN62 on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft was scheduled to take off from Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow, Russia, at 2:40pm on October 22 (local time) to Hà Nội. However, the airport’s jet bridge collided with the aircraft’s engine and perforated the fuselage shell minutes before takeoff.

To ensure safety, Vietnam Airlines has worked with technicians at the airport and from Boeing to assess the aircraft and decided to ground the plane to correct the issues. 

During the wait, Vietnam Airlines has updated its passengers with information regarding the incident and made apologies. 

The airline has provided accommodation and meals for passengers with valid Russian documents. For those whose entry and exit permission has expired, the airline has provided them spaces in the airport’s business lounge until the plane is ready. 

Vietnam Airlines said for the next flight from Hà Nội to Moscow, it will replace the usual Boeing 787-9 with a Boeing 787-10, which has more seats, to bring some of the stranded passengers in Russia to Việt Nam on the flight back. 

In addition, the airline also plans to offload passengers to other airports in Europe where Vietnam Airlines can provide direct flights to Việt Nam, including Charles De Gaulle airport (Paris, France) and Frankfurt (Germany). 

It also contacted Russia’s airline Aeroflot and other airlines to help transport the remaining passengers to Việt Nam. — VNS