Airport cancels all flights

ALL flights into Mt Hagen’s Kagamuga Airport in Western Highlands are suspended following oil spill on the runway, according to the National Airports Corporation (NAC).
NAC managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) Rex Kiponge flanked by Air Nuigini CEO Bruce Alabaster and PNG Air acting CEO Stanley Stevens said, in Port Moresby yesterday, that NAC had issued a cautionary notam (notice to airmen) to all operators not to fly into the airport.
He believed it was a deliberate act. “I am demanding the local leaders in Hagen Central to apprehend the perpetrators and surrender them to police, only then we will make a decision whether to cancel the notam or to leave the notam as it is, this is a serious issue,” he said.
“We cannot continue to tolerate such things and under this management, we will be very tough and firm.
“That is why I will decide whether or not to cancel the notam or to remain as it is.”
Kiponge said assessment on the oil spill on the runway was continuing and further details would be released.
He said the perpetrators accessed the runway between 8pm and 10pm on Monday.
“I do not know how they went in and spilled oil onto the runway, it is a serious issue for us, it is a breach of Civil Aviation Act, on the encroachment of the restricted area,”he said.
“Looking at the photos, the runway is as good as gone, our technical team on the ground are accessing the extent of the damage.
“If the damage is serious, NAC has got no choice but to close the runway and to start ripping off the damaged runway and we will start repairing the runway before we open for public use.”
Kiponge said people should not hold others at ransom by stopping vital services like airports and should raise whatever issues they have with relevant authorities.
“We have NAC security, two companies providing security at Kagamuga and investigations have started.