Vietnam Airlines 787-9 Collides with A321 at Hanoi Airport

HANOI- Two Vietnam Airlines (VN) aircraft collided on the ground at Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) on June 27, disrupting travel plans for hundreds of passengers and grounding both jets.

The incident occurred at approximately 2:23 PM as a Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 bound for Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) clipped a stationary Airbus A321 preparing to depart for Dien Bien (DIN). No injuries were reported, but both aircraft sustained visible damage and required inspection.

Photo- tjdarmstadt | Wikimedia Commons

Two Vietnam Airlines Aircraft Collided

At 2:23 PM local time on June 27, 2025, a Vietnam Airlines (VN) Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, registered as VN-A863, was taxiing toward the runway at Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) for a flight to Ho Chi Minh City (SGN).

Its right wingtip struck the tail of a stationary Airbus A321, registered as VN-A338, which was preparing to depart for Dien Bien (DIN).

The collision occurred at the intersection of taxiways S3 and S, under clear weather conditions with good visibility, ruling out environmental factors as an immediate cause.

The impact caused visible damage, including a tear in the Airbus’s vertical stabilizer and harm to Boeing’s wingtip, scattering debris across the tarmac.

The Northern Airports Authority and the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam are investigating to determine the precise cause, focusing on operational and human factors.

Both aircraft were immediately grounded for technical inspections to assess the extent of the damage. The Boeing 787-9, carrying 259 passengers, and the Airbus A321, with 127 passengers, sustained structural damage requiring thorough evaluation before returning to service.

Vietnam Airlines (VN) promptly returned all passengers and their luggage to Terminal T1 at Noi Bai International Airport (HAN). The airline arranged alternative flights to minimize disruption, though specific details on the rebooking process or delays were not disclosed.

The grounding of these aircraft, critical to Vietnam Airlines’ (VN) fleet, temporarily reduced capacity on the busy Hanoi (HAN) to Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) and Dien Bien (DIN) routes.

Photo: By Kentaro Iemoto from Tokyo, Japan – Vietnam Airlines A321-200(VN-A362), CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23459311

Passenger Safety

Despite the structural damage, all passengers remained safe. The Dreamliner was carrying 259 passengers to Ho Chi Minh City, while 127 passengers were onboard the A321 headed to Dien Bien.

No sustained injuries, and Vietnam Airlines promptly transported all affected travelers back to Terminal T1.

The airline arranged alternate flights for all passengers and assisted with baggage recovery. While there is no confirmation yet on the duration of each aircraft’s grounding, maintenance crews are currently assessing the full extent of the damage.

Photo- BriYYZ from Toronto, Canada | Wikimedia Commons

Ongoing Investigation

The CAAV emphasized that both aircraft will undergo full technical evaluations before returning to service. The agency also stated that further findings will determine whether procedural lapses or human error contributed to the incident.

Noi Bai International Airport continues to operate normally, although temporary rerouting of taxiing aircraft was implemented to avoid the affected area.

Vietnam Airlines confirmed its full cooperation with the investigative process and assured that passenger safety remains its top priority.

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