Vietnam Airlines crew questioned in Australia about excess cash

Nine Vietnam Airlines flight attendants were questioned by Australian authorities for carrying excess cash, the director of Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam said Saturday.

Dinh Viet Thang said the national carrier had told the authority (CAAV) about the incident. "But Australian authorities have not officially informed Vietnamese aviation officials."

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

Eight were flown home the same day, while one was detained until 6 p.m. and returned to Vietnam the following day.

Thang said the incident was "not too serious", with the Vietnamese flight attendants allowed to return home without being detained for investigation.

A Vietnam Airlines representative said at present, its crews were still flying back and forth as normal. The carrier has asked Australian authorities for more information about the incident.

Under Australian law, each foreigner entering or leaving the country must declare if he or she is transporting Australian dollars or foreign currencies equal to at least A$10,000. Declaration failure could result in fines or imprisonment.