Lancet Jades
03-01-2004, 11:00 AM
Air passenger 'made terrorist claim'
March 1, 2004
A MAN boarding an international flight in Brisbane introduced himself as a terrorist, a court was told today.
Nigel Nunn Aylward, 63, of Daisy Hill, pleaded not guilty in the Brisbane District Court to one count of making a false statement under the Crimes Aviation Act.
The court was told Aylward was one of the last passengers to board the Royal Brunei Airlines flight from Brisbane to Brunei on May 13, 2002.
Flight attendant Sharin Yew, giving evidence in the trial, told the court how she greeted Aylward at the door and said, "good morning".
"I greeted him and asked to see his boarding pass," she told the jury.
"Instead of replying 'good morning', he said 'I am a terrorist', loud and clear."
Ms Yew said Aylward showed no emotion and was expressionless when he made the announcement before calmly proceeding to his seat and sitting down.
After consultation with the flight captain, Aylward was eventually removed from the flight. The trial before Judge Brian Hoath is expected to end tomorrow.
March 1, 2004
A MAN boarding an international flight in Brisbane introduced himself as a terrorist, a court was told today.
Nigel Nunn Aylward, 63, of Daisy Hill, pleaded not guilty in the Brisbane District Court to one count of making a false statement under the Crimes Aviation Act.
The court was told Aylward was one of the last passengers to board the Royal Brunei Airlines flight from Brisbane to Brunei on May 13, 2002.
Flight attendant Sharin Yew, giving evidence in the trial, told the court how she greeted Aylward at the door and said, "good morning".
"I greeted him and asked to see his boarding pass," she told the jury.
"Instead of replying 'good morning', he said 'I am a terrorist', loud and clear."
Ms Yew said Aylward showed no emotion and was expressionless when he made the announcement before calmly proceeding to his seat and sitting down.
After consultation with the flight captain, Aylward was eventually removed from the flight. The trial before Judge Brian Hoath is expected to end tomorrow.