Prisoners grounded

Panel ‘fell off’ as Corrections charter flight forced to land

A PLANE carrying a group of prisoners was forced to make an emergency landing in Tennant Creek after a panel “fell off”.

NT Corrections officers were transporting the prisoners from Darwin to Alice Springs when the “panel fell off midair and they had to land in Tennant Creek”, a source from within Corrections has told the

Sunday Territorian.

A PLANE carrying prisoners was forced to make an emergency landing in Tennant Creek after a panel “fell off”.

NT Corrections officers were transporting the prisoners from Darwin to Alice Springs when the “panel fell off midair and they had to land in Tennant Creek”, a source within Corrections has told the

Sunday Territorian.

It’s understood officers were forced to call in NT Police and extra security to guard the prisoners.

“There were a fair few (prisoners) and now they’re stuck in Tennant Creek,” the source said.

The source said the flight, inflight security and extra security called in when they landed in Tennant Creek would have cost Corrections about $30,000.

“They’ve previously done these transfers by bus,” the officer said.

“But now they’re paying the extra for the flight because they don’t want to pay extra money in wages.

“They talk about saving money but then they spend thousands on charter flights and now on extra security.”

Attorney General Natasha Fyles (who is on leave) and acting Attorney General Eva Lawler were briefed on the incident.

A spokeswoman for Ms Lawler said: “Correctional Services along with NT Police in Tennant Creek were engaged and responded immediately to provide assistance and ensure community safety.”

A spokeswoman from the Attorney General’s Department said Corrections did not “make public the security details for prisoner transfers” but said NT Corrections Commissioner Scott McNairn wanted to assure the public there was no risk to public safety during the incident. The spokeswoman did not answer questions about the cost of the transfer or why the choice was made to fly the prisoners from Darwin to Alice Springs instead of bussing them.

She also wouldn’t answer questions about the offences of the prisoners.

A part for the aircraft was flown in and the prisoners were expected to continue on to Alice Springs last night.