Mentally ill man spends night in plane at KIA

Feb 01, 2016 Top News 72
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Malawian airlines

… enters runway using Mutharika’s gate

A man who is thought to be mentally ill spent the wee hours of Sunday in a plane at Kamuzu International Airport without being detected by security personnel, raising eyebrows into the security aspects of the airport.

A source at the airport said the man, identified as James Govati, 25, entered the runway through a gate used by President Peter Mutharika and other bigwigs.

Malawi24 understands that the man is yet to undergo a medical test but a source said the airline is believed to be “very concerned and this will cause concerns to many sectors.”

Malawian airlinesAccording to media reports, the man forcefully removed the emergency exit door of the plane, a Q400 Bombardier belonging to Malawian Airlines, to make his way into the plane at around 3am and was only detected several hours later by engineers who noticed that the plane’s door had been removed.

The gate is manned by police officers and the surrounding perimeter is fenced and somehow the man entered the perimeter without being detected.

Malawian Airlines spokesperson Ovihlela Bunya confirmed the development and added that the plane had no scheduled flight on Sunday morning.

“We are still investigating the matter. The engineers went to check why the door was open and realised it had been removed, upon reaching the plane they saw a man inside and the man started running away from them. He was at the back of the plane and started running towards the cockpit,” said Bunya.

According to Bunya, the incident is even more baffling considering that the emergency door cannot be opened from outside.

She said Malawi Airlines is waiting for more details from the investigations, suffice to say the airport has police and other security agents responsible for all security matters.

“Safety is our top most priority hence we are making every effort to establish how this person managed to get inside the plane. The airport has been thoroughly searched for any alien elements and nothing has been found. The Q400 had no scheduled operation for the day,” Bunya said.

Minister of Transport Francis Kasaila says he has briefed Mutharika on the incident and added that government was working on getting to the bottom of the incident.

“We have been informed but I am yet to get a full report on the incident. So far, we know there was an intruder who went through one gate got on board a Malawian Airline, I will give a detailed update later after speaking to the airport commandant and police,” said Kasaila.

However, KIA Police Public Relations Officer Sapulani Chitonde insisted that police officers apprehended the man before he entered the plane.

“He was intercepted by police officers who were patrolling nearby. No door was opened,” said Chitonde. “He was questioned and said he wanted to travel to South Africa for medical treatment.”

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72 Comments

  1. Kkkkkkk amafuna ayende wachangu kuti akachire msanga bwanji sanapite kukakwera bus ya intercape or business time, God protect us,

  2. I think there was connection between the man and the security gaurd,because how can a man manage to broke the plane’s door without the gaurd noticing something? Pls the government must follow up this issue untill the truth to be known,and those gaurd who were on duty must be fired because they don’t know why they are there.

  3. I think there was connection between the man and the security gaurd,because how can a man manage to broke the plane’s door without the gaurd noticing something? Pls the government must follow up this issue untill the truth to be known,and those gaurd who were on duty must be fired because they don’t know why they are there.

  4. Uku ndiye kusowa kwa chitetezo, chilungamo ndi chitukuko. Ife tikungokhala mwa chisomo ngati agwape mu nkhalango yodzadza ndi mikango.

  6. That is a clear indication that there is no security in the country. Even the president himself, his life is at risk.He must not believe there is security in the country.

  8. Know that there are some professional mad personal dont be wonder,what he were trying to find out was see inside the plane & 4get to get out due to comfotability of the ndegeyo.

  14. I don’t agree with those People who says “Malawi is a failed or Poor State” but agre with the late Bingu that Malawi is not a Failed or Poor State but its the People who are poor and failliers

  15. Me I don’t agree with People who says Malawi is a failed or Poor State, but I do agre with the late Bingu that its Peopld who failiers and Poor. How Malawi country to be poor? Yet God created it with reach soils, minerals, water etc. Its U and me we are failing to it

  21. Malawi should wake up and start doing things in order seriously i have been in a plan before but u cant find a person inside alone .airport its differ than buss depot so akapwanya ndegeo titsala ndichani we need more security does not mean g4s bt we meant new sistm

  22. Malawi should wake up and start doing things in order seriously i have been in a plan before but u cant find a person inside alone .airport its differ than buss depot so akapwanya ndegeo titsala ndichani we need more security does not mean g4s bt we meant new sistm

  25. Malawi has low supply of drugs, low supply of goods and services and the lapse of security makes one conclude that “Malawi is a failed state”.

  26. Malawi has low supply of drugs, low supply of goods and services and the lapse of security makes one conclude that “Malawi is a failed state”.

  35. Those security guys at airport just know to eat mugaiwa only and drink tea in offices. There’s no tight security in Malawi. Bwanji sanamuwone munthu akulowa mu ndege? Zinazi, kuzachitika ngozi yoopsa tsiku lina. A galu osakawo sakudziwa ntchito ya chitetezo.

  37. You mean the mentaly ill guy evn knwz he cn gt treatment in southafrica?yo,Malawi shud wokeup,so lets say if he woz cming to plant abomb he cud hav succeded? my poor seculity,you must be serious,last month woz atoy,this month wamisala,nanga mwenzi wamawa?

  38. You mean the mentaly ill guy evn knwz he cn gt treatment in southafrica?yo,Malawi shud wokeup,so lets say if he woz cming to plant abomb he cud hav succeded? my poor seculity,you must be serious,last month woz atoy,this month wamisala,nanga mwenzi wamawa?

  39. Apa zaonetsa kut a police amagona,how come a mad man enter into the airplane

  40. China chake chizachitika imeneyo ndi plan kunamizira mutu akuyesa chitetezo akanakhala Boko Halam bwenzi tikunena zina. Koma chonde ndibwino muike ma cctv basi nde apolisi ma patrol azipangira pa computer.

  48. Being a peaceful country does nt mean police or mdf officers should lock up their guns into the store-room. They hv to be ready at all times for any attack. Suppose that man is from alshabab with bombs. U hv to be careful,wake-up stop sleeping

  58. SAVE YOUR DATA
    1 February 2016 Last updated at: 5:59 PM
    Mentally ill man spends night in plane at KIA
    Mwayi Mkandawire

    … enters runway using Mutharika’s gate
    A man who is thought to be mentally ill spent the wee hours of Sunday in a plane at Kamuzu International Airport without the knowledge of the facility’s security personnel.
    A source at the airport said the man entered the runway through gate used by President Peter Mutharika and other bigwigs.
    Malawi24 understands that the man is yet to undergo a medical test but a source said the airline is believed to be “very concerned and this will cause concerns to many sectors.”
    Malawian airlinesAccording to media reports, the man forcefully removed the emergency exit door of the plane, a Q400 Bombardier belonging to Malawian Airlines, to make his way into the plane at around 3am and was only detected several hours later by engineers who noticed that the plane’s door had been removed.
    The gate is manned by police officers and the surrounding perimeter is fenced and somehow the man entered the perimeter without being detected by security officers.
    Malawian Airlines spokesperson Ovihlela Bunya confirmed the development and added that the plane had no scheduled flight on Sunday morning.
    “We are still investigating the matter. The engineers went to check why the door was open and realised it had been removed, upon reaching the plane they saw a man inside and the man started running away from them. He was at the back of the plane and started running towards the cockpit,” said Bunya.
    According to Bunya, the incident is even more baffling considering that the emergency door cannot be opened from outside.
    She said Malawi Airlines is waiting for more details from the investigations, suffice to say the airport has police and other security agents responsible for all security matters.
    “Safety is our top most priority hence we are making every effort to establish how this person managed to get inside the plane. The airport has been thoroughly searched for any alien elements and nothing has been found. The Q400 had no scheduled operation for the day,” Bunya said.
    Minister of Transport Francis Kasaila says he has briefed Mutharika on the incident and added that government was working on getting to the bottom of the incident.
    “We have been informed but I am yet to get a full report on the incident. So far, we know there was an intruder who went through one gate got on board a Malawian Airline, I will give a detailed update later after speaking to the airport commandant and police,” said Kasaila. However, KIA Police Public Relations Officer Sapulani Chitonde identified the man as James Govati, 25, from Kampachika Village, TA Mazengera in Lilongwe.
    Chitonde also insisted that police officers apprehended the man before he entered the plane.
    “He was intercepted by police officers who were patrolling nearby. No door was opened,” said Chitonde. “He was questioned and said he wanted to travel to South Africa for medical treatment.”

  59. SAVE YOUR DATA
    1 February 2016 Last updated at: 5:59 PM
    Mentally ill man spends night in plane at KIA
    Mwayi Mkandawire

    … enters runway using Mutharika’s gate
    A man who is thought to be mentally ill spent the wee hours of Sunday in a plane at Kamuzu International Airport without the knowledge of the facility’s security personnel.
    A source at the airport said the man entered the runway through gate used by President Peter Mutharika and other bigwigs.
    Malawi24 understands that the man is yet to undergo a medical test but a source said the airline is believed to be “very concerned and this will cause concerns to many sectors.”
    Malawian airlinesAccording to media reports, the man forcefully removed the emergency exit door of the plane, a Q400 Bombardier belonging to Malawian Airlines, to make his way into the plane at around 3am and was only detected several hours later by engineers who noticed that the plane’s door had been removed.
    The gate is manned by police officers and the surrounding perimeter is fenced and somehow the man entered the perimeter without being detected by security officers.
    Malawian Airlines spokesperson Ovihlela Bunya confirmed the development and added that the plane had no scheduled flight on Sunday morning.
    “We are still investigating the matter. The engineers went to check why the door was open and realised it had been removed, upon reaching the plane they saw a man inside and the man started running away from them. He was at the back of the plane and started running towards the cockpit,” said Bunya.
    According to Bunya, the incident is even more baffling considering that the emergency door cannot be opened from outside.
    She said Malawi Airlines is waiting for more details from the investigations, suffice to say the airport has police and other security agents responsible for all security matters.
    “Safety is our top most priority hence we are making every effort to establish how this person managed to get inside the plane. The airport has been thoroughly searched for any alien elements and nothing has been found. The Q400 had no scheduled operation for the day,” Bunya said.
    Minister of Transport Francis Kasaila says he has briefed Mutharika on the incident and added that government was working on getting to the bottom of the incident.
    “We have been informed but I am yet to get a full report on the incident. So far, we know there was an intruder who went through one gate got on board a Malawian Airline, I will give a detailed update later after speaking to the airport commandant and police,” said Kasaila. However, KIA Police Public Relations Officer Sapulani Chitonde identified the man as James Govati, 25, from Kampachika Village, TA Mazengera in Lilongwe.
    Chitonde also insisted that police officers apprehended the man before he entered the plane.
    “He was intercepted by police officers who were patrolling nearby. No door was opened,” said Chitonde. “He was questioned and said he wanted to travel to South Africa for medical treatment.”

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