A man who claimed to have a bomb in his luggage on a Qantas flight was told by a judge that today was a bad time to have such a matter in court.
Judge Cecilie Rushton was referring to yesterday's discovery of a terrorist plan to blow up planes travelling
between Britain and the United States.
Ewan Patience, 49, appeared in Wellington District Court charged with breaching the Civil Aviation Authority Act on July 10 when he was on a delayed flight on the tarmac at Wellington airport.
Qantas staff told passengers they could get off the plane and catch a later flight.
Loudly and clearly, Patience said: "I would, but my bag has got to stay on board because it's got a bomb in it."
Patience's lawyer Greg King described the statement as an act of stupidity for which his client is "absolutely mortified".
Patience, who has to fly frequently, has met with Qantas representatives and expressed his deepest apologies, he said.
Mr King said Qantas took a neutral stance on the issue.
The flight had already been delayed and the company did not seek any reparation.
Patience's comment was made in the context of general banter that was happening in the cabin and the only other passengers to hear it had laughed, Mr King said.
Patience had never been before the court prior to this offence, but had now spent a number of hours in police custody.
"For a person of his status... it's been a god-awful strain on him."
Mr King suggested his client pay a sum to charity for his "one second of lunacy".
Judge Rushton set the figure at $2000, which will go to Plunket.
She said the act was extremely foolish and potentially dangerous, but accepted it was off-the-cuff.
Patience was discharged without conviction.
- NZPA
