Passengers get off a plane at Phù Cát Airport in central Bình Định Province. —VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Deputy Prime Minister Phạm Bình Minh has requested inter-sectoral inspections in ensuring aviation security, as well as in preventing and combating terrorism and illegal intervention in civil aviation activities.

In a notice dated March 1, Minh, who is Head of the National Civil Aviation Security Committee (NCASC), praised agencies and member units of the NCASC, the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities with airports and aviation enterprises for their efforts last year, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The number of flights, passengers, and cargo volume decreased sharply last year, and the production and business activities of aviation firms were seriously affected by the pandemic. However, ministries, agencies and localities have focused their resources on pandemic prevention and control and effective measures to ensure aviation security, he said.

The Deputy PM said the country's economy would recover this year so that aviation activities would rise strongly due to high travel demand. This means assuring aviation security and safety will be more challenging.

This year, the most crucial task is to continue reviewing and completing regulations, including the Civil Aviation Law, decrees, and directives of the prime minister. Communication work should enhance awareness and ensure aviation security.

The NCASC was requested to train its members in line with the pandemic and conduct inter-sectoral inspections to guarantee aviation security and terrorism prevention.

The Ministry of Transport will take prime responsibility in ensuring safety in the aviation sector.

The Deputy PM assigned the Ministry of National Defence to coordinate with ministries, agencies, and localities to map out plans to respond to the emergence of crewless and ultralight aircraft that illegally interfere in civil aviation.

The People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities were asked to coordinate with other agencies in ensuring aviation security and preventing unauthorised taxis at airports. — VNS