Saturday, June 8, 2024 -The South African police has confirmed the arrest of two suspects for breaking aviation laws after making comments about a possible threat onboard a plane at Cape Town International Airport.
The two men
were onboard a flight enroute to Johannesburg on Thursday, June 6, at
about 5.30pm when they made the comments. Police spokesperson Brig
Athlenda Mathe said the cabin crew was alerted and emergency procedures were
activated.
Mathe said;
“The pair allegedly uttered comments to a
passenger suggesting that there is a threat onboard that may endanger the
safety of passengers and jeopardise operations on the aircraft. SAPS K9, bomb
technicians and the special task force safely removed the suspects from the
aircraft and passengers were relocated by the airline.
“They [police] only found two optic scopes
for rifles which are not classified as dangerous weapons or items in terms of
the Firearms Control Act.
“They have been arrested and charged with breaking aviation laws
because they made comments onboard that are considered to interfere unlawfully
with aircraft operations.”
The police
also warned passengers and airport users that committing an act of
violence or threats against anyone, including crew members, could endanger
aircraft safety and is an offence.
Mathe added;
“It is also an offence to communicate
information which he or she knows to be false to other passengers or aircraft
crew. Disorderly behaviour, being in a state of intoxication and behaving in a
violent manner is also a criminal offence.”
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