VietJet A330 Ho Chi Minh City-Melbourne Declares Emergency

VietJet VJ81 Ho Chi Minh City-Melbourne

VietJet Air flight VJ81 declared an emergency with squawk code 7700 not long after departure from Ho Chi Minh City. The flight is presently initiating a return to the origin airport.

The nature of the emergency prompting the early return is not yet known.

Descent and Emergency Declaration

Flight VJ81 conducted a fairly rapid descent from FL320 (32,000) before declaring the emergency. The flight descended below 10,000 feet and flight crew then squawked transponder code 7700.

At the time of the code 7700 transmission, the aircraft had levelled off at 9,000 feet.

The aircraft is currently holding off the coast, which may be for fuel dumping purposes before the early return landing.

Holding is being conducted at an altitude of 7,000 feet.

Exited Holding Pattern

VietJet flight VJ81 has now left the holding pattern and is continuing an approach to Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN). The aircraft is presently descending through 4,000 feet for its return.

Approach SGN

Weather for the flight’s return is current visual conditions (VFR), with visibility 10 kilometers or more, with a 5,000 foot cloudbase. The active runway for the return is RWY25.

VietJet flight is now establishing on finals for SGN RWY25.