Chief Pilot Stood Down?
Qantas pilot suspended after refusing shoePublished: September 14, 2006
MANILA, Philippines A Qantas Airways flight to Australia was delayed after two of its pilots refused to remove their shoes as part of Manila airport's anti-terrorism measures, prompting the airline to suspend one of them, officials said Thursday.
The pilots on the Manila-Sydney flight late Tuesday refused to comply with the security regulation, said Chief Superintendent Andres Caro, head of the police Aviation Security Group.
"They were arguing that they were the pilots of the plane and they are not a threat. But who knows the face of a terrorist?" Caro said. "We are implementing what is being implemented consistently for everybody."
He said the pilots later relented when security officers insisted on the check.
John Borghetti, Qantas executive general manager, said in a statement from Sydney that the chief pilot was disallowed from flying while an investigation is under way. An airline spokeswoman said the flight was delayed for 22 minutes.
"If it is good enough for the (Australian) prime minister (John Howard), the treasurer (Peter Costello), the Qantas chief executive officer (Geoff Dixon) and me to take off their shoes at security screening points, it is good enough for our pilots," Borghetti said.
"All security issues are taken very seriously at Qantas. This matter is the subject of a full investigation, and the chief pilot has been stood down while the investigation is under way," Borghetti said, adding that appropriate action will be taken once the probe is completed.
Caro said the mandatory removal of shoes for all passengers, airport workers and airline staff at the final pre-departure security check was among the new security measures, in addition to prohibiting liquids and gels as hand-carry items.
Last edited by DEFCON4; 14th Sep 2006 at 19:50.
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