The Boeing’s wingtip sustained visible damage, while the Airbus A321’s tail fin was torn.Vietnam Airlines (VN) has grounded four pilots after two of its planes were involved in a taxiway collision at Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) in Hanoi. The incident caused major delays for flights headed to Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) and Dien Bien (DIN) affecting more than 380 passengers. At around 2 p.m. on Friday a Boeing 787 made contact with an Airbus A321 while moving on the taxiway which led to both aircraft being pulled from service and started a serious investigation by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV).
The crash took place as a Boeing 787 from Vietnam Airlines pilots was taxiing toward the runway at Noi Bai Airport for its flight to Ho Chi Minh City. While crossing the junction between taxiways S3 and S the right wingtip of the Boeing hit the vertical tail fin of a parked Airbus A321 which was getting ready to fly to Dien Bien. The Boeing 787 had visible wing damage, while the Airbus A321’s tail fin was torn. Both planes were removed from service for inspections, and Vietnam Airlines pilots quickly sent replacement aircraft to assist more than 380 delayed passengers.
As a result, Vietnam Airlines suspended all four pilots involved in the incident—two from each flight crew—until the internal investigation is complete. A separate independent group was also assigned to examine the situation along with the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, according to VNExpress.
The CAAV officially classified the taxiway collision as a Level B safety incident which means there was a serious error in following flight rules though it didn’t cause a disaster. Early results show that the Airbus A321 might not have been properly positioned at the assigned holding point on taxiway S3. This detail is now a key part of the ongoing investigation.
In a related case, an EasyJet (U2) Airbus A320 nearly crashed into a mountain during its approach to Hurghada (HRG), setting off a major warning and launching a safety review. The flight, which was on its way from Manchester (MAN) to Hurghada (HRG) came dangerously close to high ground, and the airline responded by suspending the pilot and launching a full investigation.
On February 2, the EasyJet Airbus A320 dropped to just 3,100 feet during descent—only 771 feet above terrain that rises to 2,329 feet. The Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) issued a sharp “pull up” alert which the pilots responded to immediately.
Standard flying rules for landing in Hurghada’s mountainous zone require aircraft to maintain a safe altitude of about 6,000 feet. However, flight data showed the plane was dropping at a dangerous rate of 4,928 feet per minute before it leveled off. Experts said this rate of descent was unsafe given the high terrain in the area.
Captain Paul Elsworth who was flying the plane reported the incident the next day while preparing for the return flight to Manchester. EasyJet suspended him and assigned a new crew for the return trip. Although both the captain and co-pilot gave statements, the cockpit voice recording was erased during the flight back, making it harder to investigate. Still EasyJet confirmed that it is strictly following all safety protocols.
The airline released a statement saying, “Safety is the number one priority for all our pilots. They are trained to the highest industry standards, subject to rigorous testing and monitored closely.”
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India also suspended the crew of an IndiGo (6E) flight after a tail strike took place at Delhi Airport (DEL) on September 9, 2024. The plane, an Airbus A321neo flying from Delhi to Bengaluru (BLR), suffered a tail strike while taking off and has not returned to service since then.
The Airbus A321neo, registered as VT-IBI, made strong contact with the runway during departure from Delhi. It was headed to Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, but the damage caused the aircraft to return to the gate. No one was injured during the event.
According to early findings the DGCA is carefully reviewing the flight’s data, the crew’s actions and whether all procedures were correctly followed.
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