Two men have been arrested and charged with contravention of the civil aviation act following comments made on board that are classified as acts of unlawful interference with aircraft operations.
The two men were removed from an aeroplane that had just boarded at the Cape Town International Aiport and was enroute to Johannesburg on Thursday just after 17:30.
The pair allegedly uttered comments to a passenger suggesting that there is a threat on board that may endanger the safety of passengers and jeopardise operations on the aircraft.
Cabin crew was alerted and Emergency procedures were activated.
SAPS K9 and Bomb technicians as well as the Special Task Force were called in. A tactical approach was activated and the suspects were removed from the aircraft. Passengers were also moved by the airline.
SAPS K9 and Bomb Technicians proceeded to clear the aircraft where they only found two optic scopes for rifles which are not classified as dangerous weapons or items in terms of the Firearms Control Act of 2000.
The SAPS reminds passengers and airport users that it is an offence to commit an act of violence, including an assault or threat, whether of a physical or verbal nature, against any person including a crew member which is likely to endanger the safety of that aircraft. It is also an offence to communicate information which he or she knows to be false to other passengers or aircraft crew. Disorderly behaviour , being in a state of intoxication and behaving in a violent manner is also a criminal offence.
The post Two men removed from a boarding aircraft and arrested at Cape Town International Airport first appeared on South Africa Today.