League player gets slap on the wrist for bomb joke while others get referred to the police.
Qantas confirmed over the weekend that it had taken no action against Bulldogs prop Nate Myles, as a result of a bomb joke made on a Qantas flight, while others have been referred to the Australian Federal Police and faced charges for making such comments.
A Qantas spokesman said over the weekend, “A player was questioned in relation to an inappropriate comment, the matter was investigated and the player was allowed to travel.”
Under Australian aviation security laws Nate Myles could have faced a $5,500 fine for making the alleged comments, when Myles allegedly asked team mate Hazem El Masri if he had a bomb strapped to him as the team boarded a flight in Sydney last month.
The comment was overheard by a Qantas flight attendant who quite rightly passed it on to Sydney Airport security, with the aircraft’s departure to Melbourne delayed by 30 minutes as Bulldogs officials were interviewed by security staff.
Surprisingly, Myles was not charged and an AFP spokesman confirmed that the matter had not been referred to the Federal Police, prompting serious questions why Qantas had not referred the matter.
When the Australian Federal Police was asked why Qantas did not refer the matter to the AFP, the spokesman said: “It depends on the circumstances and Qantas doesn’t actually have to pass all information on to the Australian Federal Police, they are not required to do that”, adding, “They have investigated the matter and deemed it appropriate for him to travel.”
In a similar case earlier this year, a 23-year-old man from Canberra checking in for a Qantas flight to Sydney was not so fortunate when he joked to a customer service agent he had two bombs in his hand luggage, ending up in court charged with making a bomb threat.
In 2002, a Victorian farmer was fined $7500 by a Brisbane Magistrate over making a bomb related threat on a Qantas flight for Rockhampton.
Another Victorian man boarding a Virgin Blue Flight to Melbourne from Canberra on April 17, allegedly told a customer service agent he was carrying only two bombs in his luggage and he also faces legal action.
Acting Federal Transport Minister Jim Lloyd has confirmed that he will be seeking an official report from Qantas about the incident adding, “I have certainly instructed my department to seek further information from Qantas from reports of a serious breach of the transport regulations”.
We look forward to hearing the outcome of the Acting Federal Minister’s enquiries and what should be the equitable application of relevant security laws, ensuring consistent safety for all, with Qantas formally reporting this incident to the AFP as should have happened at the outset, irrespective of the status or position of the individual.
Report by The Mole
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