Aviation authority requires tighter fraud control after flight crew questioned in Australia

The Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) on Wednesday ordered domestic airlines to implement preventive measures against illegal trade and commercial fraud among crew members.

The regulator stated airline management must take responsibility for preventing commercial fraud and the trade of smuggled or counterfeit goods among their flight crews. Staff who abuse their positions to smuggle goods will be suspended and banned from other positions in aviation.

Airlines will also be responsible for reporting to CAAV when foreign authorities inspect their flight crews.

Airport management will supervise the implementation of the directive, which aims for stronger prevention of goods smuggling and commercial fraud among flight crews under their authority.

The directive comes following a case where Australian authorities earlier this month questioned nine Vietnam Airlines flight attendants.

The national flag carrier last Saturday rejected allegations that the flight attendants were questioned by Australian authorities in May for carrying excess cash, calling it "a random check".

Earlier, reports by Australia’s 7News showed Australian authorities on May 23 interrogated nine Vietnam Airlines crew members carrying an excess of A$60,000, divided and hidden inside their luggage.