Woman held over fight in plane

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK  
A WOMAN has been detained for bashing up a female flight attendant on an international flight last Friday at the Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby, airport police station commander Chief Sergeant Robert Wane said yesterday.
Wane said that the 30-year-old woman smashed a bottle of perfume five times on the head of the flight attendant and scratched her face, causing facial injuries in front of 116 international passengers on the plane bound for Brisbane, Australia.
“Both females are married to the same man.  They met on the plane and fought, causing disturbance on the plane that was still on tarmac and preparing to take off. The suspect, who is a senior officer with a mining company, was arrested and charged under the Civil Aviation Act Section 262 for fighting with flight crew. She is now on K1000 bail and is expected to appear before the district court for mention.”
Wane said that all the demonstration of air safety and other in-flight preparation formalities had been completed when the incident happened.
“The fight broke out when the captain was signing off the manifest lists given by the ground staff. Some of the flight attendants came to rescue their colleague and broke up the flight and grabbed hold of the suspect.
“Airport security guards were then called into the plane and removed her. She was brought to the police station and we charged and detained her.”
Wane said that the victim was also removed from the plane.