'Bomb on board' comment gets man arrested

Untimely comments about a bomb on board a commuter plane prompted police to arrest a passenger at Auckland Airport yesterday.

The 55-year-old Papatoetoe man is expected to appear in court on a charge of communicating false information affecting safety, an offence under the Civil Aviation Act.

The alleged offence occurred as the man was boarding a Palmerston North-bound plane.

While police did not disclose the man's personal details, it is understood the arrested man and his friend are both Corrections Department employees.

Police said he told his friend he had better get the bomb out of his bag or words to that effect.

Senior Sergeant Matt Sillars said that in light of the situation in the United States, security at all airports had been increased.

Such comments were taken very seriously by the airlines and police.

"This has to be a lesson to all passengers that remarks such as this are not only irresponsible but will not be tolerated and will be treated as a breach of security on any flights leaving either terminal at Auckland Airport."

Mark Everitt, general manager of the Aviation Security Service, said that such comments made under present circumstances had to be taken very seriously.

It is believed police investigating the incident discovered in the arrested man's possession a visitors pass to police headquarters in Wellington, apparently supplied to him while supporting an officer's promotion bid.

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