A helicopter company in Papua New Guinea has suspended all flights to Kagua district in Southern Highlands after a pilot and crew member were held up and robbed by a gang of thugs.
The Bell 407 helicopter belonging to Heli Solutions Limited was piloted by the company’s co-owner and chief executive officer Captain Phil Emeck. A crew member was with him.
Emeck owns the helicopter company with fellow Southern Highlander Capt James Pilot. They are both former PNG Defence Force pilots who resigned to start their own aviation company.
He described the incident as “frightening and barbaric”, adding that it was not the first time thugs in the area had tried to attack helicopters and planes.
Flights off after helicopter robbery - Papua New Guinea - News - Islands Business magazine