By Vannessa Night – EMTV News, Port Moresby
In a serious breach of the Civil Aviation Act, a man forcefully entered an Air Niugini plane yesterday at Momote Airport in Manus Province, to prevent his wife and child from traveling out of the province.
According to Lorengau police, the wife was already seated in the aircraft with the couple’s two year old daughter, when her husband pushed through airport security and passengers to board the aircraft.
The victim is said to have suffered multiple facial injuries from the beating, but was allowed to go home after seeking medical attention at the local hospital.
Police were told the wife’s attempt to leave the province stemmed from an earlier row with her husband.
Any conduct made by unauthorised persons within the boundaries of a declared aerodome land including airports and aircrafts, are strictly regulated by laws and protocols.
The man is now in police custody and may face several charges for breaching Section 294 and Section 262 of the Civil Aviation Act 2000, which carries a possible K5,000 fine, or six months imprisonment for wilfully obstructing or inciting aviation officers, and a possible 14 year imprisonment for threatening members of the crew and causing violence or injury within the vicinity of the aircraft.
Further charges pertaining to the incident can be laid by the victim under the Criminal Code for assault or grievous bodily harm, to which the penalty amounts to a further seven years imprisonment.
National Airports Corporation’s Chief Operating Officer Sylvester Kenatsi confirmed the incident but was not able to comment further.
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