In the wake of a recent jet accident in South Korea that raised global alarm about aviation safety, the Macau Civil Aviation Authority (AACM) reaffirmed yesterday its commitment to maintaining high safety standards for Macau’s air-transport sector, after VietJet Air, a Vietnamese airline, on route to Macau returned to Cam Ranh International Airport in Vietnam due to smoke coming from the tail section of the cabin during its flight on Friday.
The incident involving VietJet Air occurred while the aircraft was in Vietnamese airspace, and the airline promptly dispatched another plane to fly passengers to Macau, resulting in a revised departure time of 8:01 p.m. on Friday, with the flight safely landing at Macau International Airport at 10:57 p.m. later that day.
In a statement to local media, Macau’s civil aviation regulator emphasised that safety in air transportation remains a top priority for the industry, pointing out that it conducts regular and unannounced safety inspections and audits of operators and base airlines at the local airport.
The AACM underlined that it utilises a “Mandatory Accident Reporting System” and a “Confidential Aviation Safety Reporting System” to continuously collect and analyse safety data, while regular safety management meetings are held with industry stakeholders to gain deeper insights into operational safety.
In addition, the authority has implemented a range of safety measures specifically for non-local airlines operating in Macau, as well as assessments of the airport’s surrounding environment, runway safety, and bird-strike risks, the statement said.
Since its operational start in 2015, the airport has installed remote sonic bird deterrents and increased the frequency of wildlife patrols on runways, the statement said, adding that height restrictions for buildings near the airport have also been enforced, with some structures equipped with obstacle warning lights to enhance safety alerts.
In addition, as the annual Chinese New Year (CNY) travel season approaches, the AACM has begun processing applications for charter and additional flights for the 2025 Spring Festival, with seven additional routes newly approved by the authority, totalling 34 additional flights, the statement noted.
The Year of the Snake begins on January 29.
This undated publicity photo downloaded from the official website of VietJet Air last night shows one of its planes.
