Heavy rain disrupts 17 flights in central Vietnam, forces go-arounds at Da Nang

Heavy rain and strong winds disrupted 17 flights in central Vietnam on November 9, with visibility at Da Nang International Airport dropping to between 750 and 1,300 meters — below operational limits for landing.

The Central Air Traffic Management Company confirmed the disruptions late Tuesday. Of the 17 affected flights, 12 entered holding patterns over Da Nang while four performed go-arounds. A further flight at Phu Bai International Airport had to abort its first landing attempt and come around again.

What triggered the disruptions?

Storm weather swept through Da Nang from the late afternoon, cutting visibility well below the thresholds controllers work to. From 5:00 pm, visibility at runway 35R occasionally fell below the minimum required for landing, according to the air traffic authority.

It wasn't only arrivals. Several departing aircraft requested permission to deviate from their assigned routes after take-off to avoid storm clouds, adding further complexity for controllers working an already degraded operation.

How did controllers respond?

Air traffic controllers implemented ground delay measures to keep the situation safe, holding departures rather than stacking arrivals beyond capacity. They also coordinated with control centers in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to adjust aircraft speeds en route and manage the flow of incoming flights.

The measures worked in one key respect: the company reported no weather-related flight disruptions on Tuesday itself, suggesting the ground-delay program and speed adjustments absorbed the worst of the weather's impact.

What comes next for central Vietnam?

The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting expects heavy rain to persist across central Vietnam through Wednesday, with rainfall of 100–200 mm forecast across the region and over 350 mm in some areas.

Rainfall should ease gradually from Thursday, restoring more stable operating conditions at Da Nang and Phu Bai.

For airlines serving central Vietnam, the episode is a reminder of how quickly tropical weather can erode airport capacity — a single afternoon of reduced visibility was enough to force 12 aircraft into holding patterns and four go-arounds. With more than 350 mm of rain possible in localized spots before Thursday, further delays and diversions remain a live risk for carriers and passengers moving through the region this week.