E. Flores Official Kicked off Flight After Claiming to Have Bomb
25 August 2016 15:38 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Kupang - The Regional Secretary of East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Anthonius Tonce Matutina has been forced off Larantuka-bound Wings Airplane at El Tari Airport, Kupang, for claiming to have a bomb.
The incident started when his bag did not fit into the baggage gauge prompting a curious flight attendant to ask about its content.
“A flight attendant asked what the content [of the bag] was. The Secretary said it was a Molotov bomb,” Angkasa Pura I director of El Tari Airport Kupang, Wahyudi told Tempo Thursday, August 25, 2016.
Having been forced off the plane, the Secretary said he was only joking, Wahyudi explained. His bag did not contain a bomb. “The Secretary said he was only joking.”
According to Wahyudi, despite the humorous nature, the secretary’s antics were unjustifiable. Flight Law says that whoever disseminate false information which may pose any danger on flights will be prosecuted. “It’s unethical to make such a joke on a plane.”
However, Anthonius will not go through any legal process since the airline did not make any report. “We had waited for the airline to make a report, yet they didn’t make any.”
The incident was the third of its kind at El Tari Airport Kupang. Earlier, three workers claimed they had a bomb. On another occasion, a housewife made similar claim. “We call on people not to intentionally say that there is a bomb on the plane.”
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