Official charged for blocking plane landing
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Police in eastern Indonesia said yesterday they had charged an official who allegedly prevented a passenger plane from landing by blocking an airport after he was refused a seat on the flight.
Ngada district chief Marianus Sae ordered his security officials to put their cars on the runway to force a plane operated by a state-run domestic airline to return to the capital of East Nusa Tenggara province, police said.
“The district chief has been named a suspect in the case,” said provincial police chief Ketut Yoga Ana. Sae was charged with abuse of power and could face up to 32 months in prison, Ana said.
He apparently acted out of anger at being told there were no seats left on another flight.
