The flight crew, which served on Flight VN54 on March 1st, 2020, from London to Hanoi, included four pilots and 12 flight attendants. Right after receiving the news that there were Covid-19 infected passengers on the aircraft on the night of March 6th, Vietnam Airlines had immediately quarantined nearly 60 pilots, flight attendants, technicians, and ground service staff for supervision in order to limit the potential spread of the epidemic.

The entire flight crew of Flight VN54 tests negative for Covid-19 (Cre: Cabin Crew).

At the moment, 16 members of the Flight VN54 are still strictly following centralized quarantine instructions and receiving intensive medical supervision. Furthermore, the technicians and ground service staff serving on the flight, as well as related pilots and flight attendants, are also in quarantine and reporting good health.

Ever since the sign of the looming Covid-19 outbreak, pilots, flight attendants, and staff members of Vietnam Airlines have been equipped with medical face masks and latex gloves, knowledge regarding prevention and control of the outbreak, hand-washing techniques, and procedures in safe service delivery that comply with the Ministry of Health’s standards. Vietnam Airlines always strictly adheres to recommendations of the authorities, the World Health Organization (WHO), and other agencies and units working in the health, aviation, and tourism sectors to ensure passenger and employee safety and health.

Facing the complex global developments of the Covid-19 epidemic, since the 8th of March 2020, Vietnam Airlines has implemented the disinfection of all aircraft returning from foreign countries. Flights with passengers showing abnormal symptoms have also been reported to the authorities and then disinfected.

To enhance epidemic prevention and control in Vietnam, the carrier will conduct pre-boarding body temperature checks for all passengers departing from Europe as well as provide face masks for passengers to use during the travel time.

Regarding domestic flights, Vietnam Airlines will disinfect headphones and points of frequent hand contact after each flight. Equipment used in service delivery at Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat airports such as jet bridges, boarding cars, and support vehicles for passengers with limited mobility is also cleaned by using disinfectant liquids.

Vietnam Airlines is monitoring the situation to come up with proactive and prompt measures and is joining hands with the aviation industry and the community to push back the Covid-19 epidemic.

Nguyen Mai Huong-COMM