VietNamNet Bridge - China Airlines has estimated that the damages caused by the crash of a luggage truck into an aircraft at Tan Son Nhat airport on August 27 may be up to $1 million. According to aviation authorities, Tan Son Nhat Ground Service Enterprise will have to pay compensation whle the truck driver will bear responsibility.

According to the Southern Airports Authority, the incident happened when the conveyor truck of Tan Son Nhat Ground Service Enterprise approached the airplane to unload baggage. The truck driver Truong Van Toan mistook the gas pedal for the brake and crashed into the lower rear part of the aircraft.

The crash caused a 20 cm by 100 cm dent in the Airbus 330. In addition, over 300 passengers had to wait for 15 hours before they could board another plane to resume the flight from HCM City to Taiwan at 1.40 a.m. on August 28.

According to China Airlines, engineers from Taiwan were sent to Tan Son Nhat to repair the plane, which can take up to three days.

Lai Xuan Thanh, Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), said: "In principle, Tan Son Nhat Ground Service Enterprise will have to pay compensation for China Airlines, based on their agreement. As for driver Tran Van Toan, his responsibility shall be based on labor contract he signed with Tan Son Nhat Ground Service Enterprise and this enterprise’s working regulations."

Thanh said most of the firms operating in the aviation sector purchased insurance so when incidents occur, the damages are usually covered by insurance.

Tran Doan Mau, Director of the Southern Airport Authority, said Tan Son Nhat Ground Service Enterprise has to entirely cover the compensation. However, this amount will be paid by aviation insurance firms as both sides bought aviation insurance.

Mau said driver Toan’s violations will be settled according to regulations of Tan Son Nhat Ground Service Enterprise and the Labour Code.

He affirmed that Toan broke the rules of civil aviation activities so the Southern Port Authority would impose administrative penalties on him.

Reportedly, Tan Son Nhat Ground Service Enterprise has suspended the driver from work for 15 days for investigation.

The Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam has assigned the Southern Airport Authority to cooperate with related units to clarify the incident as soon as possible.