Airlink Cancels Nampula Flights Amid Aircraft Seizure Threat

Airlink announced the cancellation of January 7 flights to Nampula in Mozambique following a claim for damages instituted by the provinces court. The instituting of the claim was accompanied by a court application to have Airlinks aircraft seized pending the outcome.

The claim was filed with the Judicial Court in the province of Nampula by two Mozambican passengers who were offloaded from an Airlink flight in Johannesburg due to unruly and threatening behaviour.

As the safety and well-being of its passengers, crew and aircraft come before any other operational consideration, Airlink has a strict zero-tolerance policy with regards to unruly behaviour onboard its aircraft. Any interference, threats or belligerence towards ourcrew, or disruption to the crews primary task of providing passenger safety, puts the lives of all on board at risk, said Airlink CEO and MD, Rodger Foster .

According to a statement by Airlink, the situation that led to the passengers offloading was handled in accordance with South Africas civil aviation regulations and was reported to the relevant authorities.

On December 28, the institution of the claim was accompanied by an interim court order to seize at least three Airlink aircraft in Mozambique, pending a hearing scheduled for mid-January. On the same day, Mozambique court officials attempted to seize an Airlink aircraft at Nampula Airport but were unsuccessful.