Monkey at Hanoi airport raises safety concerns

An airport representative said Thursday the monkey was spotted on Feb. 14 and 18 near an airport security booth. When security team members approached the animal, it ran away, the representative added.

The monkey has not yet intruded on the runway, but security personnel have yet to come up with a solution to the possible threat.

Authorities also remain uncertain of where the monkey came from, as no families or facilities that raise monkeys have been located near the airport.

Airport authorities have asked the Soc Son District People's Committee to instruct local agencies to catch the monkey and prevent it from entering the airport.

If the monkey does reach the tarmac, it could pose a safety risk as planes take off and land, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam. The Authority has instructed the airport to use cameras to surveil the monkey.

In the past, dogs have been found wandering the airport's runway. The airport has installed security fences around the tarmac to prevent animal intrusion.