An Indonesian politician was not happy with an airline that refused to let him board a flight that was full. To get back at the airline, the district chief allegedly sent officials to block the runway so that the plane couldn't land.
Marianus Sae, head of Ngada district in the eastern island of Flores, was trying to get home quickly to Ngada from the city of Kupang on Timor island as he had a meeting to go to. He tried to get on a flight with Merpati Nusantara airlines, but the airline refused to sell him a ticket as the Saturday flight to Turelelo Soa airport was already full, News.com.au reports.
"It is outrageous," Sae said according to the Jakarta Globe newspaper. "I begged for a ticket for five hours to fly to Ngada and their answer was: 'The flight is full'."
Sae didn't take the rejection likely. Infuriated, he ordered public order officers to block the runway. The officers have more limited powers than police and are under the authority of local governments. The officers were told to drive their cars on to the runway so that he aircraft wouldn't be able to land.
The officers were successful. The limited airport staff could not stop the blockade, so the airport was forced to shut down for several hours. According to Merpati spokesman Riswanto Chendra Putra, the flight that Sae wanted to be one was forced to turn back since it couldn't land at the airport.
Putra added that two of the 56 seats on the plane had become available at the last minute and Sae could have ridden with them but he had already booked a flight on another airline.
According to transportation ministry spokesman Bambang Ervan, the district chief had "tarnished the reputation of the aviation industry". However Ervan says the ministry has no plans to take legal action and that the local police should be responsible for that.
But he said the ministry had no plans to take legal action, adding such matters were the responsibility of the police.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
