Passengers traveling in and out of Port Moresby can now breathe easy with the Jackson International Airport re-open for normal operations by 1pm this afternoon after it was closed by the National Airport Corporation (NAC) over aviation security breaches.
NAC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Rex Kiponge said the closure of the Jackson Domestic Terminal was due to the breach of aviation safety laws by members of the police force when they were in the process of arresting him on matters relating to the operations of one of the national airports in the country.
“About 17 police personnel entered illegally and unlawfully at the main point of entry and onto the area where the aircrafts were parked last night,” said Mr. Kiponge.
He said that this breach resulted in the contamination of the airport facility and as a result the NAC took action, as per the international aviation safety standards and regulations, to stop all operation of the airport until a thorough security check was made to ensure everything was safe and secure for the airlines, airline staff and airport staff and the traveling public before the airport is re-opened for business.
After a thorough check by NAC security team (AVSEC) and the staff, Mr. Kiponge was pleased to inform the public that everything was safe and that the notice to airman to stop flights into Jackson International Airport lapsed at 12pm, meaning that normal flights resumed at 1pm.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kiponge also clarified that the closure of the airport was purely due to the breach in the Civil Aviation Safety Act and not because of his arrest. He also clarified that only the domestic terminal was closed and not the international terminal.
Mr. Kiponge also said he was not happy with the approach of the police in this matter and that NAC will be filing a complaint with police on this breach of aviation safety laws.