Two pilots injured during a hijacking on a New Zealand domestic flight are in line for bravery awards.
Air National pilots Dion McMillan and Ross Haverfield were confronted by Asha Ali Abdille, 34, after she allegedly entered the plane's cockpit carrying a knife, told them to fly to
Australia and into the sea, claiming she had a bomb.
Abdille, 34, a Somali vineyard worker, was allegedly brought to the ground by the pair only after the dramatic flight from Blenheim to Christchurch last February had ended.
The New Zealand Air Line Pilots' Association (NZALPA) is in the process of applying for a prestigious Polaris award for the pair. The bravery award is presented by the International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations (IFALPA).
Abdille is accused of hijack, taking an offensive weapon on to an aircraft, and four charges of wounding or injuring with reckless disregard for safety, and faces trial in Christchurch in September.
Mr McMillan was flying yesterday when the Weekend Herald called. His wife Anissa said he was pleased to be recognised but "he certainly doesn't think of himself as a hero".
Mr McMillan told a court last year he feared he, Mr Haverfield and their passengers would be killed after Abdille came into the cockpit about 10 minutes into the flight.
Upon landing in Christchurch, Abdille agreed to allow the passengers to leave the plane. When she was distracted, Mr McMillan said he shoved her backwards into the aisle of the aircraft, where she became wedged.
"I moved backwards and stood over her and grabbed the wrist of the hand that had the knife. It was then I realised I had a large deep cut to my left hand and there was a significant amount of blood and my thumb was sitting out on a weird angle," he said.
IFALPA is holding its 64th annual conference in Auckland in March.
