Kiwi fined for trying to open plane door
> Man endangered lives of other passengers in drunken midair attempt
SEPANG: A Kiwi restaurant manager was fined RM6,000, in default 12 months’ jail, by the magistrate’s court yesterday for attempting to open the door of a Malaysia Airlines aircraft in midair during a flight from New Zealand to Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.
Magistrate Mohamad Izwan Mohamed Noh meted out the fine on Cranwell Frazer Harry, 32, after he pleaded guilty to the charge.
Before handing out the sentence, the magistrate warned Harry, who is from Auckland, New Zealand, to not repeat his action, which was a serious offence and could endanger the lives of other passengers and crew onboard.
Harry, who was in the dock with tears rolling down his cheeks, nodded and said, “I promise, sir”.
He was charged with endangering an aircraft and the lives of those onboard by attempting to open the emergency door of flight MH0130 at 11pm on Aug 12.
The charge was made under Regulation 97 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 2016, which provides a fine of up to RM50,000 or three years’ imprisonment, or both.
According to the facts of the case, a stewardess on the flight from New Zealand to Vietnam, with a transit at KL International Airport, saw Harry holding the handle of the emergency door of the aircraft and attempting to open it.
He was believed to be under the influence of alcohol after having consumed five cans of beer and a glass of liquor in the flight.
The stewardess then asked Harry to move to another seat and informed the chief stewardess and captain about incident.
In mitigation, his lawyer Zaflee Pakwanteh said Harry was enroute to Vietnam for a holiday and he regretted his action and apologised for it. The two days spent in the police lockup had really taught him a lesson, said the lawyer.
DPP Aziatul Afrizan Alias prosecuted. – Bernama