Namah’s flight denied landing

By REBECCA KUKU
A CHARTERED flight was stopped from landing in Vanimo, West Sepik, to pick up Opposition Leader Belden Namah.
Namah told The National that he and Central Bougainville MP Sam Akoitai were supposed to visit Porgera on Monday.
Namah claimed that the chartered Tropic Air aircraft was stopped by National Pandemic Response Controller David Manning from landing in Vanimo but he denied the claim.
“The plane was supposed to pick me up in Vanimo after it refuelled at Wewak in East Sepik, however, the Controller David Manning restricted the plane from landing,” Namah said.
“And instead directed it directly to Kairik Airport in Porgera.”
Tropic Air chief executive officer Craig Chapple when asked by The National why the chartered aircraft did not land in Vanimo, said he was “not at liberty to advise the reason”.
“I would suggest you either contact Barrick PNG or the controller (Manning) for the reasons,” he said.
In a brief response, Barrick (Niugini) Ltd, operator of the Porgera Mine in Enga, also said that they were unaware of the reasons surrounding the non-stopover of the aircraft in Vanimo.
Manning in response denied that he or the National Control Centre restricted the flight from landing in Vanimo.
He said there were no restrictions for domestic travel however provinces had started their own restrictions.