THE Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is questioning how the operator of a third level airline “failed” to clear a passenger who was armed with a firearm which gave way for the aircraft transporting K4.7 million to be hijacked on Monday in Port Moresby.
CAA director Joseph Kintau yesterday said CAA would conduct its own investigation into the incident.
Gery Geno, the general manager for aviation security, said it was a requirement under civil aviation’s air safety regulations for all passengers on board any aircraft and flights – whether commercial or charter flights – to be cleared of such items, which should be safely stored away in the cargo hull.
But a spokesman from Tropicair, requesting anonymity, said the company and its air operation had always complied with air service regulations set out by CAA.
“We have not breached any regulations,” he said when responding to claims by CAA of alleged “breached of aviation regulations”.
The hijacking of the King Air C90 aircraft operated by Tropicair Ltd, a third level airline company, happened after one of the two Bank South Pacific’s staff attached with the Security Division threatened the pilot with a pump action shot gun he took on board.
The aircraft was transporting BSP’s money, K4.7 million, to Kiunga and Tabubil in Western province, when it was hijacked and forced to land at Fisherman Island.
“In charter situations, the requirement is the same. It is the responsibility of the airline company to clear these things,” he said.
Tropicair Ltd said it would comment today when contacted yesterday.