Air Niugini denies police officer had a gun in the plane

Air Niugini has denied claims in the media alleging that a policeman had a firearm when he boarded a Fokker 70 aircraft last week on Friday in Goroka, Eastern Highlands.
The airline can confirm that the policeman at the centre of the controversy boarded the aircraft without any firearm, it said.
Air Niugini’s general manager Corporate Services Marco McConnell said all due processes were followed in Goroka to ensure the policeman boarded the aircraft unarmed.
This was done so that the safety of passengers, crew and the aircraft was not compromised in any way.
“As per the standard requirement for firearms on board an aircraft, our staff in Goroka raised the necessary firearm acceptance documents and placed the unloaded weapon in the cargo hold. Therefore the policeman boarded the aircraft unarmed,” McConnell said.
McConnell said Air Niugini staff in Goroka have confirmed that the concerned policeman appeared to be sober during check-in and security screening, and as such he was not suspected to be under the influence of alcohol.
It was only onboard the aircraft and as it was taxiing out, that the policeman stood up from his seat, the cabin crew then advised the officer regarding safety procedures and that was when he became unruly.