Post by Brett on Feb 8, 2008 13:41:24 GMT 12
From Yahoo.co.nz
Provider navigation:
Summary | Newstalk ZB | NZPA
Friday February 8, 12:28 PM
Woman held after attacking pilots in mid-air drama
A 33-year-old Blenheim woman, originally from Somalia, is being held by police after attacking two pilots during a flight from Blenheim to Christchurch this morning.
One pilot received a cut to his hand and the other has an injured foot after the incident aboard an Air National flight which landed safely just after 8am.
Christchurch police commander Superintendent Dave Cliff said the woman claimed there were bombs aboard the aircraft and it was being searched by the army bomb squad and specialist police teams.
Mr Cliff said the seven passengers were evacuated safely with one receiving a minor hand injury.
Four of the passengers were New Zealanders, one was from Victoria, Australia, and one was an Indian national.
They were being interviewed by detectives at the airport this morning.
Mr Cliff said little information was known about the suspect and background inquiries were being made in Blenheim this morning.
Air traffic resumed at 11.10am, with airlines having a backlog of three hours of in and out-bound flights to work through.
An eye witness told NZPA the area was in utter chaos this morning, with unmoving traffic banked up hundreds of metres.
"Passengers are getting out of their cars and walking up to their flights, and staff are walking through to the airport," the man, who did not want to be named, said.
Marlborough District Council support services manager Dean Heiford said in all domestic airports across New Zealand, the size of the aircraft and length of the flight dictated the security measures in place.
None of the airlines at Blenheim Airport requires hand luggage to be scanned.
Heiford said security measures were dictated by the Civil Aviation Authority and the airlines, not the airport management.
Air New Zealand group general manager short haul airline Bruce Parton said the airline was providing specialist support to the pilots and passengers. "Today's incident, although a one-off, has naturally given us cause to conduct a thorough review of our safety and security systems and processes on regional domestic flights," Mr Parton said.
The flight was operated for Air New Zealand by Air National, the employer of the pilots.
Air National chief executive officer Jason Gray said his company was proud how its pilots had handled an extremely difficult situation.
"They did an amazing job, which reflects their high level of training and professionalism. We are currently providing them and their families with all necessary support," said Mr Gray.
Wayne Johnstone, a passenger on board another flight to Invercargill, said he was asked to get off his flight and he saw police surrounding the aircraft involved, Stuff website reports.
He said there was a sniper on the tarmac, and police rushed into the plane.
"I saw a dog go in, the passengers came out in a rush, then the woman came out, bundled to ground and searched by police and taken away."
Police and Transport Minister Annette King said she had asked both police and the Aviation Security Service to provide her with urgent reports on the incident.
Aviation Security Service (AvSec) southern regional manager Chris Watkins praised the way the emergency was handled.
"We have emergency procedures in place and they were followed to the letter," he said.
Mr Cliff said police were also pleased at the outcome.
He said there was "great co-operation" between Air New Zealand, AvSec, the Fire Service police and the airport company.
"Things were handled very professionally," Mr Cliff said.
"We're certainly pleased that it's been resolved in the way it has without any significant injury and the plane landing safely."
_______________________________________
I think the only possible sane response to this sort of behaviour is to pick another country and invade it.
Cheers,
Brett
Provider navigation:
Summary | Newstalk ZB | NZPA
Friday February 8, 12:28 PM
Woman held after attacking pilots in mid-air drama
A 33-year-old Blenheim woman, originally from Somalia, is being held by police after attacking two pilots during a flight from Blenheim to Christchurch this morning.
One pilot received a cut to his hand and the other has an injured foot after the incident aboard an Air National flight which landed safely just after 8am.
Christchurch police commander Superintendent Dave Cliff said the woman claimed there were bombs aboard the aircraft and it was being searched by the army bomb squad and specialist police teams.
Mr Cliff said the seven passengers were evacuated safely with one receiving a minor hand injury.
Four of the passengers were New Zealanders, one was from Victoria, Australia, and one was an Indian national.
They were being interviewed by detectives at the airport this morning.
Mr Cliff said little information was known about the suspect and background inquiries were being made in Blenheim this morning.
Air traffic resumed at 11.10am, with airlines having a backlog of three hours of in and out-bound flights to work through.
An eye witness told NZPA the area was in utter chaos this morning, with unmoving traffic banked up hundreds of metres.
"Passengers are getting out of their cars and walking up to their flights, and staff are walking through to the airport," the man, who did not want to be named, said.
Marlborough District Council support services manager Dean Heiford said in all domestic airports across New Zealand, the size of the aircraft and length of the flight dictated the security measures in place.
None of the airlines at Blenheim Airport requires hand luggage to be scanned.
Heiford said security measures were dictated by the Civil Aviation Authority and the airlines, not the airport management.
Air New Zealand group general manager short haul airline Bruce Parton said the airline was providing specialist support to the pilots and passengers. "Today's incident, although a one-off, has naturally given us cause to conduct a thorough review of our safety and security systems and processes on regional domestic flights," Mr Parton said.
The flight was operated for Air New Zealand by Air National, the employer of the pilots.
Air National chief executive officer Jason Gray said his company was proud how its pilots had handled an extremely difficult situation.
"They did an amazing job, which reflects their high level of training and professionalism. We are currently providing them and their families with all necessary support," said Mr Gray.
Wayne Johnstone, a passenger on board another flight to Invercargill, said he was asked to get off his flight and he saw police surrounding the aircraft involved, Stuff website reports.
He said there was a sniper on the tarmac, and police rushed into the plane.
"I saw a dog go in, the passengers came out in a rush, then the woman came out, bundled to ground and searched by police and taken away."
Police and Transport Minister Annette King said she had asked both police and the Aviation Security Service to provide her with urgent reports on the incident.
Aviation Security Service (AvSec) southern regional manager Chris Watkins praised the way the emergency was handled.
"We have emergency procedures in place and they were followed to the letter," he said.
Mr Cliff said police were also pleased at the outcome.
He said there was "great co-operation" between Air New Zealand, AvSec, the Fire Service police and the airport company.
"Things were handled very professionally," Mr Cliff said.
"We're certainly pleased that it's been resolved in the way it has without any significant injury and the plane landing safely."
_______________________________________
I think the only possible sane response to this sort of behaviour is to pick another country and invade it.
Cheers,
Brett
