19 March 2008

Avalon runway a cause for alarm

A report in the Geelong Advertiser says that a man delayed the departure of a Jetstar flight from Avalon Airport by running onto the tarmac in an effort to retrieve a forgotten passport from a plane. Jetstar staff intercepted the Israeli tourist after he ran out from the baggage hall.

He was later interviewed by police and allowed to leave.

Sen-Constable Geoff Jolley of Lara police said no charges had been laid but the man might be summonsed.

Jetstar staff deemed the man came close enough to boarding passengers to pose a security risk.

Passengers who had boarded the plane for its next flight had to disembark, go through security checks again and fly out 45 minutes late.

Sydney passenger Garry Scale watched the drama unfold from the airport departure lounge on Sunday morning and said passengers were put out by the incident.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœI was sitting back waiting until last to board, and all of a sudden someone was running across and there was a bit of a kerfuffle, they grabbed him and held him in the airport,'' Mr Scale said.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœJetstar did all of the right things, but people were grumpy because it was so audacious.''

Airport general manager Tim Anderson said the man's passport was found on the plane, adding, "His story was verified.

"I understand he panicked a bit, passports being important documents, and unwisely ran back to the plane.''

Mr Anderson was happy with the security response to the incident.

"It indicated to us that staff were being vigilant,'' he said.

"It was an unfortunate thing, but the system worked.''

Jetstar corporate relations general manager Simon Westaway said the incident was unfortunate, adding, "It's regrettable, but it occurred and obviously we've got to follow the due process".

"It's a lesson to people in that situation to advise staff members.''

A Report by The Mole frem the Geelong Advertiser