At around 10 AM on August 26, the international departure area at Tan Son Nhat Airport (Ho Chi Minh City) was overcrowded with passengers. Hundreds of travelers were seen queueing for extended periods due to delays far beyond the norm.

Many international tourists were visibly exhausted, with some sitting on the floor while waiting for the system to be restored.

The departure system failure triggered a cascade of disruptions. Several flights were delayed, and many passengers were stuck for hours, unable to clear customs. The situation raised concern among travelers, with many worried it could affect their schedules and connections.

To ease tensions and minimize the impact, airlines continuously issued announcements to reassure passengers and arranged priority lanes for those with imminent departures. Flight change options were also offered to reduce potential risks.

According to the Security Center of Tan Son Nhat International Airport, by noon the system had gradually resumed operations. Immigration counters returned to normal function, and congestion was slowly resolved. The incident affected approximately seven flights.

On the same day, poor weather conditions influenced by Storm No. 5 caused additional delays for many domestic flights at Tan Son Nhat. Several passengers reported their departures had been postponed due to thunderstorms, particularly those flying from Ho Chi Minh City to northern and central provinces.

Airline representatives confirmed that the storm forced changes to both incoming and outgoing flight schedules at Tan Son Nhat, resulting in a ripple effect of delays throughout the day.

In response, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam issued an emergency directive, requiring all relevant units to maintain round-the-clock operations, enhance coordination, and closely monitor the storm’s developments. The directive aimed to ensure absolute safety for both passengers and flights.

Tuan Kiet