Nội Bài International Airport in Hà Nội. — VNS Photo Trọng Kiên

HÀ NỘI — The Civil Aviation Administration of Việt Nam (CAAV) announced on Friday that all Pakistani pilots working for Vietnamese airlines have valid licences.

It said the Pakistani Embassy in Hà Nội sent a diplomatic note on July 17 regarding the credentials of Pakistani pilots flying for local carriers.

The embassy also released a list of pilots with licences recognised by the Pakistani Government as authentic and valid.

It affirmed that all CPL/ATPL licences administered by the Pakistani aviation regulator are legitimate and valid. There were no fake licences, as mentioned by the media.

Earlier, following Pakistani authorities’ revelation that more than 250 pilots had been fraudulently granted licences, the CAAV directed all Vietnamese airlines to check up on their Pakistani pilots.

There are 27 Pakistani pilots licenced by the CAAV, of whom six are registered to work for the flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, 17 for the budget airlines Vietjet Air and four for Jetstar Pacific.

Twelve currently work for Vietjet and Jetstar Pacific, while the rest have either completed their contracts or returned home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

There are no Pakistani pilots working for Vietnam Airlines or the newly-established Bamboo Airways.

The CAAV explained that it licensed these pilots to work in Việt Nam in accordance with Vietnamese regulations and international practice.

None of the pilots have been involved in a flight incident or flight safety threat while flying for Vietnamese airlines, the CAAV noted. — VNS