Brings back memories of long laid back waits in Papua New
Guinea airports on my short stay there...just glad I didn't ask what
the rubber band hanging on the door knob was for!

The following is a message I received yesterday about a real live
hijacking of a Missionary Avitaion Fellowship plane in PNG.
Perhaps not so humerous, bit just as scary.

> HIJACKED!
>
> Chris was out on his second operational flight as co-pilot in the Twin
> Otter with Lowell Deering on Saturday and happened to go to Lake
> Kopiago as normal.  In the afternoon they went back there for the
> second time and while Chris was up front doing check lists etc with
> one engine running and Lowell was outside getting the last of the
> passengers loaded and freight on board, 5 masked rascals (criminals)
> with guns and bushknives (great big long 13-20 inch knives) held  up
> the plane.  They had Lowell on the ground then all came into the
> plane.
>
> They stole stuff off all the 10 passengers (including pilots) - boots,
> socks, money, jackets, watches, bilums (bags) etc plus cash etc from
> the days takings. Chris had one guy put a gun to the side of his head
> roughly just in front of his ear and a sharp bushknife to his throat.
> They said it was a hijack and that they wanted to be taken to Fuguwa.
> To make matters worse the local Lake Kopiago people started throwing
> stones supposedly trying to protect the guys and passengers but only
> succeeded in damaging the side of the plane etc and making it very
> dangerous with one engine still running.  Lowell made a quick choice
> and they were out of there before the stones damaged the engine and
> they had to shut down. Who knows what would have happened if that had
> eventuated!  Chris had one armed guy on him and Lowell had another.
> They were stopped from using the radio and making the necessary
> checklists etc before taking off because the guys wouldn't let them
> touch anything.  Good thing Lowell was the captain and could do things
> on instinct. The other three in the back had all the passengers lying
> on the floor during the flight.    Fuguwa happened to be closed for
> maintenance but they landed and 1/2 way up the strip the rascals
> jumped out and ran off into the bush.
>
> They took off, called flight service and went to Tari to check all the
> passengers out and plane etc and try to inform the Police.  The Police
> work 5 days a week, so nothing could be done!  They returned to Hagen
> and since Monday the police are working on the case.  David Kalawi the
> Cabin attendant was the only one injured.  He was bushknifed across
> the lower back through his shirt and jacket and has a long cut 1cm
> depth that needed stitches.  He lost alot of blood but is recovering
> ok.  All 3 went to the Police  Station yesterday to do reports etc.
> Not a very pleasant experience!  Chris said it was very frightening
> and he was sure that his neck had been cut when they pushed the knife
> into it, but thankfully it wasn't.   His ear is sore when he puts a
> telephone up to it so that's a reminder at present.
>
> Apparently, we have since heard that its 3 guys from Lake Kopiago and
> two from Fuguwa.  The airstrips are closed to MAF flights at present
> and the local people at Kopiago say they will turn in the rascals,
> but want the strip opened first.  MAF is saying no way, not until you
> give us the guys names first etc. We have heard it's Government Policy
> to close a strip when a hijack has taken place so not sure what will
> happen.
>
> Anyway, we Praise the Lord that everyone is ok.  We thank him for his
> protection.  It could have been much worse.  They did fire a gun at
> least once outside the plane and with bushknifing David shows they
> were not just pretend rascals.  They knew what they were about and
> meant business. They even pulled out the guys headsets, so during the
> flights to Fugawa and Tari, Chris and Lowell were shouting at each
> other above the noise to do their thing and be heard.  Didn't want
> them using the GPS either thought they might be contacting the Police
> etc or calling for help.
>
> The guys are recovering ok and Chris is feeling back to normal.
> Saturday and Sunday he wasn't though.  The plane is being serviced for
> the dings and a broken window at the back.  Both have had yesterday
> off and are doing paperwork etc today.  Alan our manager and Meg his
> wife came around last night to de-brief us and  pray with us, so that
> was good.  On the whole we are feeling ok and very thankful to the
> Lord.  Chris is not feeling traumatized but has moments of heaviness
> etc as he remembers what happened.


Brent Brown
Electronic Design Solutions
16 English Street
Hamilton, New Zealand
Ph/fax: +64 7 849 0069
Mobile: 025 334 069
eMail:  brent.brown@clear.net.nz