A female passenger recently sent a thank-you letter to Noi Bai Airport for helping her recover a 500-million-VND ($25,000) Rolex watch that she lost after getting out of her car at Terminal 1 on September 25. After being unable to locate it herself, she sought help from security staff.

The information was immediately forwarded to the security camera monitoring team. Nguyen Manh Cuong and Nguyen Hoang Anh were on duty at the time.

They initially thought the search would be unsuccessful, as nothing unusual was detected in the vehicle area through the surveillance footage.

Expanding their search area, Cuong speculated that the watch might have fallen through a narrow gap between the traffic lane and the railing, from the second floor down to the first. Scanning the camera footage from the first floor, they discovered the watch.

Security personnel were immediately dispatched to the scene. After completing the necessary paperwork, the half-billion VND watch was returned to its owner. The entire process, from receiving the report to finding the watch, took only about 10 minutes, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the search team.

Noi Bai Airport’s security cameras have repeatedly assisted passengers in recovering lost belongings, thanks to more than 1,000 "eagle eyes" installed throughout the airport.

Earlier, on September 5, 2023, a female passenger, D.T.L.M., traveling on flight VJ773 from Hanoi to Cam Ranh, forgot her phone containing important documents in a tray at the security checkpoint in Terminal 1.

She reported the incident to Noi Bai Airport’s security team. The security camera team quickly checked all trays in the screening area.

Within 10 minutes, the phone was found and returned to the passenger, just in time before her flight to Cam Ranh departed.

In another case in 2023, a staff member at the currency exchange counter in Terminal 2 was assisted by Noi Bai Airport security in recovering 43 million VND after a passenger mistakenly took it while boarding a plane.

Using the camera system, the passenger who had taken the money by mistake was identified. The security team coordinated with the border police and the airline to retrieve the money before the flight to Russia took off.

The silent 'gatekeepers'

The camera surveillance team belongs to the Mobile Security Unit at Noi Bai Airport Security Center. The modern camera system allows the monitoring staff to observe all activities at the airport.

“From security checks, luggage monitoring, to tracking passenger movements and detecting suspicious activities, everything is recorded and handled in real-time. This work requires a high level of concentration, responsibility, and quick problem-solving skills,” a Noi Bai Airport representative explained.

In addition to monitoring cameras, the team also manages the airport’s hotline, fielding numerous calls from passengers each day with questions about security procedures, flight information, or lost baggage assistance.

These security camera supervisors at Noi Bai International Airport are the silent "gatekeepers," ensuring absolute security and safety for all flight operations and bringing peace of mind to every passenger.

N. Huyen