Cường (in black) is rejected to be carried on that flight last Friday. — Photo dantri.com.vn

HÀ NỘI — The Civil Aviation Authority of Việt Nam has ordered the Northern Airports Authority and the flag-carrier Vietnam Airlines to clarify why a business-class drunken male passenger was only denied boarding on a flight after allegedly sexually harassing a young female passenger last Friday.

A document, signed by deputy head of the aviation authority Đinh Việt Sơn, said the handling of the case did not comply with a circular of the Ministry of Transport on measures to ensure air-security quality, reported Giao Thông (Transport) online newspaper.

The document said Vũ Anh Cường was only refused boarding on flight VN253 from Hà Nội to HCM City last Friday and did not receive further punishment.

The document said processes for aviation-security inspection and supervision for passengers, as well as handling disruptive passengers, were believed to have not been carried out properly.

Cường, admitted on Sunday night that he had been drinking before boarding on the flight, but he denied committing sexual harassment, claiming he accidentally slipped and touched the female passenger before apologising to her.

Speaking to the newspaper, head of the aviation authority, Đinh Việt Thắng said the northern airports authority had already invited Cường to appear before the agency for investigation.

Thắng added that if any sign of a criminal violation was found, the authority would hand over the case to the police. If not, Cường could face the heaviest administrative fine – being added to no-fly list. — VNS