Second bomb threat at airport

 By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK

AN expatriate missionary was detained for allegedly threatening to bomb the Jackson International Airport terminal in Port Moresby yesterday, police said.

Airport police station commander Acting Insp Robert Wane said  the threat closely followed a similar warning to blow up the domestic terminal at the airport on Sunday.

Wane said the missionary called out that he had a bomb in his bag, when cleared at the last check-out area before boarding the plane.  

“The plane was prevented from taking off and the expatriate’s luggage in the plane was taken off and checked thoroughly. 

He has been charged with threatening, was refused bail and detained at the Boroko police cell. 

He is expected to appear tomorrow in the district court. 

Wane said the missionary was bound for his country via Brisbane on the 6.30am Air Niugini flight. 

“The expatriate completed his two-year mission work in the country with his church and was excited to return to his country,” he said. 

“In his excitement he carelessly joked that he had a bomb in his bag. 

“The security guards swiftly apprehended him and checked his entire luggage.”

The man was then brought to the airport station to be questioned and charged.  

“We told him that although it was a joke to him, it was a serious security concern with international airlines and he would have faced a serious penalty if it was in his country.”

A similar incident occurred on Sunday on an early domestic  flight bound for Lae.