An elderly couple on a Vietnam Airlines flight is seen using a knife to peel fruit. — Photo from Facebook

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HÀ NỘI — The Civil Aviation Authority of Việt Nam (CAAV) said they have received reports of an incident where a passenger brought a knife on a plane, and the aviation security department is reviewing the case, CAAV Deputy Director Đinh Việt Sơn confirmed.

Earlier, a video made the rounds on social media showing an elderly couple – passengers of Vietnam Airlines flight numbered VN208 en route from HCM City to Hà Nội’s Nội Bài Airport early Monday morning – producing a knife of about 20cm to peel fruit.

The passenger who took the video said he notified an air hostess who then confiscated the knife and made a report about the incident, requiring the signature of the passengers in question. The incident lasted about a few minutes.

Tô Tử Hùng, head of the aviation security department of the CAAV, said any knife over 6cm in length (or a blade plus handle length totalling over 10cm) was not allowed in any passenger cabins.

“From the images of the video on social media, it’s likely the knife in question is among the forbidden items,” Hùng said but added that final conclusion and penalties for parties involved would be available after the investigation.

If a ground-level security scanner is deemed to have been at fault and neglected his or her duty, a licence revocation is on the table, according to Hùng.

Administrative fines could be from VNĐ1-3 million, or if the action constitutes a threat to aviation security and safety, the fine could jump up to VNĐ10 million (US$426).

For the offending passengers, bringing the forbidden item to the restricted area may not be sufficient for a criminal charge but they could face fines between VNĐ7-10 million. — VNS