AS IN THE NAMIBIAN, 19/9/2006:
Fisticuffs on airport runway
DENVER ISAACS DRAMA unfolded at the Eros Airport in Windhoek on Friday when a senior employee of a local air service company allegedly punched a rival pilot in the face just before both were about to embark on separate flights to South Africa.
According to sources who claim to have seen the incident, Johan Steyn, director of flight operations at West Air Aviation, was seen disembarking from a DHL aircraft, walking up to the chief training captain of Bay Air Aviation on the apron and punching him in the face.
"The incident was seen by many witnesses on the apron," a source stated.
The incident was confirmed by a Police source on duty at the Eros Airport, who yesterday saw it recorded in the Police's incident report book.
It could not be established what had prompted the incident.
(Johan) Steyn declined to comment when approached yesterday, while his alleged victim could not be reached.
The Police indicated that no formal charges had been laid, as the complainant had had no time to do so before the departure of his flight.
Bay Air CEO Clifford Strydom said yesterday that their pilot intended laying assault charges against Steyn. Although Bay Air said it reported the incident to the Director of Civil Aviation, the Directorate's Deputy Director for Aviation Safety and Security, Larry Makanza, said yesterday that he had no knowledge of it.
My guess is BigMac will do nothing!! Its not his territory, I'd rather think the big boss of W/A should do something...
If that was an employee who assaulted another pilot, he would face an disciplinary and most probably an immediate dismissal...
Good luck to him!!!
