Kaikohe76
They exposed a loophole that many of us knew about. There’s no doubt the airport authorities also knew but failed to tackle the problem. It’s true security has been improved in some areas and I have sympathy for the people who have to make the difficult decisions on where and how to improve it. But their persistence in harassing pilots and crews over items such as penknives while giving airside passes to illegal immigrants has damaged any confidence we might have had in them.
Now the loophole has been exposed and they are embarrassed and I dare say they would like to punish the two who exposed it. As for what action to take against the intruders: they must have broken the law so it must be possible to take them to court. But the charge would be a fairly minor one and wouldn’t discourage other reporters. The airport authorities would probably have to face the defence counsel in court and would be made to feel even more foolish than they do now. If I were in their position I think I would be searching desperately for a way to let it drop.
You ask what would have been the outcome if they had been challenged and shot by police on the airfield. I presume they would have responded to a challenge from armed police by putting their hands up and surrendering. There would be no reason for the police to shoot without first giving them a chance to explain. However any reporter in search of a good story must accept that things don’t always go to plan.