Security officials at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) yesterday started exempting airline staff from shoe inspection after two Australian pilots who refused to take off their shoes during security inspection threatened to cancel their flight last Tuesday evening.
In a report filed by 1st Police Center for Aviation Security chiefSupt. Pablo Francisco Balagtas to Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group (ASG) chief Chief Supt. Andres Caro, it was learned that the two pilots of Qantas Airways refused to remove their shoes at the final security checkpoint.
Early this month, the PNP-ASG implemented a mandatory shoe inspection for all passengers and airline staff entering the highly restricted boarding area of the country's premiere airport.
The two pilots, identified as Marcus Philips and Peter Mugford, refused to take off their shoes even though all the other Qantas flightcrew who were ahead of them submitted to the inspection.
Police Inspector Victor Gabuco Jr. explained to the two pilots thesecurity procedures, but the two still refused to follow.
According to the report, the pilots told police that they have orders from their main office not to remove their shoes.
Qantas Station Manager Ernesto Gray tried to intercede for the twobut the security officials did not budge.
At 8:15 p.m., Gray reportedly told Manila International Airport Authority action officer Bing Lina that they have decided to cancel Qantas flight QF020 bound for Sydney because of the incident.
However, 10 minutes later, Gray reportedly changed his decision after the two pilots complied with the security procedures.
The flight was delayed for a few minutes because of the incident.
As a result of the incident, Caro issued an addendum to their security procedures exempting all airline and airport employees from removing their shoes at the final security checkpoint.
However, the order said airline and airport personnel who trigger an alarm whenever they walk through the metal scanner will have to remove their shoes for inspection.
Qantas pilot suspended after refusing shoe search, airline says
By OLIVER TEVES
A Qantas Airways flight to Australia was delayed after two of its pilots refused to remove their shoes as part of Manila airport's anti-terrorism measures, prompting the airline to suspend one of them, officials said yesterday.
The pilots of the ManilaSydney flight late Tuesday refused to comply with the security regulation, said Chief Supt. Andres Caro, head of the police Aviation Security Group.
"They were arguing that they were the pilots of the plane and theyare not a threat. But who knows the face of a terrorist?" Caro said."We are implementing what is being implemented consistently for everybody."
He said the pilots later relented when security officers insisted on the check.
John Borghetti, Qantas executive general manager, said in a statement from Sydney that the chief pilot was disallowed from flying whilean investigation is under way. An airline spokeswoman said the flight was delayed for 22 minutes.
"If it is good enough for the (Australian) prime minister (John Howard), the treasurer (Peter Costello), the Qantas chief executive officer (Geoff Dixon) and me to take off their shoes at security screening points, it is good enough for our pilots," Borghetti said.
"All security issues are taken very seriously at Qantas. This matter is the subject of a full investigation, and the chief pilot has been stood down while the investigation is under way,'' Borghetti said,adding that appropriate action will be taken once the probe is completed.
Caro said the mandatory removal of shoes for all passengers, airport workers and airline staff at the final pre-departure security check was among the new security measures, in addition to prohibiting liquids and gels as hand-carry items. (AP)
Copyright 2005 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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