Monday, February 16, 2009
Anyone missing some gold?
Some 6.4 kilograms (205.76 ounces) of gold jewelry was found in the
cockpit of a Vietnam Airlines plane after landing at Hanoi's Noi Bai
Airport Thursday, authorities said, hinting that there might have been a
tip-off.
The jewelry was found on flight VN791 from Hong Kong, said Nguyen Nam
Son, acting office manager of the Northern Airport Authority (NAA).
The flight crew, comprising three pilots and seven attendants, had been
called back to the airport for interrogation but none of them claimed
ownership of the jewelry.
Another NAA official said authorities may have been tipped off the plane
was carrying smuggled gold as investigators raided the aircraft
immediately after disembarkation.
The official said the smugglers might have abandoned the gold at the
last minute.
Vietnam Airlines released a statement Thursday saying the state-owned
national flag carrier would take appropriate action against any staff
found to be involved in the alleged smuggling.
Police said their investigation was underway.
Ho Chi Minh City police pressed charges against a Vietnam Airliners
pilot and two maintenance employees last December for attempting to
smuggle 1.5 kilograms of gold to Russia in 2006.
Reported by Thai Uyen
