The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) issued a press release on January 5 addressing national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines' Flight VN5311/NRT-HAN had been subjected to a security threat.

The flight, which took off from Narita (Japan) for Hanoi at 10:30 a.m. local time on January 5, had 15 crew members and 47 passengers on board, according to the agency.

On January 5, 2022, a satellite photo shows Vietnam Airlines Flight VN5311 landing at Fukuoka Airport after being diverted due to a shoot-down threat while flying to Hanoi. Photo: FlightRadar

At 11:10 A.M, the Vietnam Airlines branch in Japan received a phone call from a male voice who claimed to be an American and spoke Japanese.

"Flight VN5311 had best to return to Narita or it will be shot down as it passes across Tokyo Bay," stated the unidentified caller.

According to VNA, The event was reported to Vietnam Airlines Corporation, which subsequently passed the information to Japanese authorities, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, and the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam authorized institutions. Following that, the Corporation called an emergency meeting of its emergency committee and counter-terrorism steering sub-committee.

Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The and Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh, who is also Chairman of the National Civil Aviation Security Committee, received a report from the CAAV on the incident.

Vietnam Airlines will continue to monitor the development of the epidemic situation. Photo: VNA.

The chairman of the CAAV, with the approval of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Transport, directed Vietnam Airlines to request authorization from the Japanese side to divert the flight to Fukuoka Airport in Japan.

At 13:02, the plane touched down safely at Fukuoka Airport. The plane was allowed to leave Fukuoka at 15:48 for Hanoi.

The CAAV has reported the incident to appropriate authorities, who will work with the Japanese side to resolve the matter.

The Japan office called Vietnam Airlines’ headquarters in Hanoi, which then reported the call to Japanese authorities, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) and an agency of the Ministry of Public Security.

Japanese authorities visited the airport and spoke to the flight crew and passengers to evaluate the situation, according to VNExpress.

Vietnam Airlines disinfects aircraft to prevent coronavirus infection. Photo: CNN

After finding no unusual signs and deeming it safe to proceed, VN5311 was allowed to depart Fukuoka for Hanoi. The aircraft landed in Hanoi at 6:12 P.M (Hanoi time).

VN5311 was the first regular flight between Vietnam and Japan after a hiatus of almost two years because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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