A Wellington property developer who sparked a bomb scare at Auckland Airport when boarding an Air New Zealand flight has been ordered to pay the airline $1000 for causing a half-hour delay.
Hayim Nachum, aged 42, caused a bomb alert on March 3 when he boarded a flight to Wellington and told the flight attendant: "My friend has a bomb in his bag."
Nachum pointed to his friend's bag and then took his seat but the pilot called in airport security and a bomb dog handler to check the aircraft before taking off.
No bomb was found and Nachum was taken off the flight and charged with providing false information relating to the safety of an aircraft.
In a written sentence by Judge John Strettell delivered through the Otahuhu District Court yesterday, Nachum was fined $750 and ordered to pay Air New Zealand $1000 for causing the delay.
Nachum, who pleaded not guilty to the charge, said he had been joking and was simply trying to get a reaction from his friend, Eyal Aharoni.
Both Mr Aharoni and Wellington Hurricanes player Inoke Afeaki had previously testified on Nachum's behalf that he was a fun-loving man with a sense of humour.
Judge Strettell accepted that Nachum was playing a joke but said the remark had distressed the flight attendant.
"[The pilot] rightly saw it as a threat to airline security and had to take the threat seriously until the contrary was proved," Judge Strettell said.
"It is not unreasonable therefore ... to impose penalties that at least bring home to all members of the public that all offences against the safety of aircraft are treated seriously."
Nachum has apologised to Air New Zealand over the incident and promised to comply with all flight regulations in future.
Bomb 'joke' costs $1750
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