Vandalism at airport forces plane to divert
POOR lighting caused by vandalism to lights at the Jackson International Airport forced an international flight to be diverted to Cairns, and prompted a warning that such incidents could discourage people travelling into the country.
Air Niugini confirmed last Friday that Flight PX 9, inbound from Manila and due to land at 4:50 on Thursday morning, was diverted to Cairns, Australia, due to poor lighting on the runway.
An airline spokesperson said the lighting was poor and the pilot deemed it unsafe to land, therefore the flight was diverted.
The plane, an airbus leased from White Airways of Portugal, returned to Port Moresby about six hours later.
Civil Aviation Authority confirmed the vandalism to the runway lights.
CAA chief executive officer Joseph Kintau said yesterday, eight of the runway lights which illuminate the runway to enable safe landing at nights by aircrafts, were damaged by vandals.
Asked how vandals could have violated a well-secured international airport, Mr Kintau said they cut through the fence and entered the airport at the northern side of the airport.
“The vandals damaged eight runway lights, and the poor lighting caused the aircraft to be diverted last Thursday,” he said, adding that technicians worked on Thursday to restore the lights and mend the airport fence.
Mr Kintau said two people have been arrested in connection with the incident, and are in custody awaiting police charges.
The CAA boss cautioned the public against such acts.
“It’s dangerous and I appeal to the public not to do such things. It’s bad for the country’s image when an international flight gets diverted due to vandalism at the premier airfield. International visitors and tourists will think twice about coming to a country where planes get diverted because of vandalism,” he said.
To beef up security at the airport, the CAA donated a vehicle to police to help with security operations around its properties, including the airport.
The vehicle was handed over to police on Thursday.
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