Australian Teenager Arrested After Writing 'I Have a Bomb' on Plane's Inflight Messaging System as a Joke
An Australian teenager was charged and deported from New Zealand after writing "I have a bomb" on an Air New Zealand in-flight messaging system, causing the flight to be cancelled.
The Telegraph UK, 10 JAN 2019.
The teen's lawyer described his actions as the "grossly stupid event of the century" Credit: Moment Mobile ED
Meke Fifita, a 19-year-old from Sydney, was deported and forced to pay £1,600 after committing a crime that his lawyer described to court as the "grossly stupid event of the century".
The court was told that Fifita, who was travelling alone from Tonga to Sydney via Auckland, wrote the message because "I thought it was funny", according to stuff.co.nz.
After the detection of the “threatening comment”, the plane, which was taxiing to the runway, returned to the gate as police and firefighters swarmed the airport. Fifita was questioned on board and later charged with providing false information about the safety of an aircraft.
Jane Northwood, Fifita's lawyer, said that the air crew announced there had been a security breach and he immediately knew that he was responsible.
"I've never met anyone more distressed or remorseful and overwhelmed," she reportedly said.
Judge Anna Johns ordered Fifita to pay a reparation sum. She said his actions had caused costs to the taxpayer, emergency services and Auckland airport.
"Anyone with half a brain would understand that this is not a funny thing to do, given the times we live in," she told the court.
Fifita’s father in Sydney paid the fine.
A passenger aboard the flight told stuff.co.nz that the plane was on the tarmac for about an hour before police boarded. She said the delay meant that it was too late for the flight to land in Sydney, so passengers were put up in Auckland for the night.
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