Drunk smuggler invades cockpit

Air passengers grappled with an alleged drug smuggler after he tried to jump into the co-pilot’s seat during a flight in the Territory.

Police said the man put the aircraft in danger of crashing.

The twin-engine Murin Travel plane was carrying six passengers.

The airline boss was yesterday questioned about how the man got on to the flight drunk and carrying drugs and alcohol.

The Cessna 404 was approaching the Wadeye airstrip, 350km southwest of Darwin, but was still about 400m in the air.

The 43-year-old man got out of his seat and approached the cockpit.

The pilot pushed him back as he tried to get into the co-pilot’s seat.

The man and his 44-year-old wife were arrested upon landing on Wednesday afternoon.

Sergeant Dean McMaster said the man was “extremely intoxicated.”

He said only the quick actions of the pilot and passengers “averted what could have been an act of stupidity with tragic consequences.”

Police searched the man’s luggage and allegedly found bottles of rum and 40g of cannabis in 28 deal bags.

The man and his wife were kept in police custody overnight.

They were bailed yesterday to appear in court on September 14.

The man has been charged with doing a dangerous act, endangering an aircraft, taking alcohol into a restricted area and possessing and supplying cannabis.

His wife will appear on alcohol and drug charges.

Police said they were disappointed the alcohol and drugs were transported into a restricted area.

Murin Travel group manager Bob Tedcastle said security would be improved following the incident.

“It’s a shocking thing,” he said.

“We don’t even allow people into our building if they’re drunk.”

Newshawk: Stuart Highway
Pubdate: 13th August 2004
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Copyright: 2004 Northern Territory News
Website: http://www.ntnews.com.au
Author: Nigel Adlam
Email: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au