Airline justifies barring Palau president from flight

MANILA, Philippines - Continental Micronesia, the airline which refused to allow the Palau president to board one of its planes after he refuse a security check, on Thursday justified its move saying that it cannot compromise the safety of its passengers and aircraft. The statement came a day after the firm refused passage for Palau President Thomas Remengesau Jr. The Palau president was scheduled to leave Manila on Wednesday night on board a Continental Airlines flight (CS 892) bound for Guam. However, Remengesau declined to be frisked for the flight and opted to skip the 9:45 p.m. plane. An official from the Philippine Air Force, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to do so, told GMANews.TV that Remengesau's party subsequently took off from the nearby Villamor Airbase shortly after 2 p.m. on Thursday on board a "chartered" flight. Continental Micronesia on Thursday defended its move in a statement issued from Guam. In it, the airline said that the president of Palau would not comply with security procedures at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila prior to boarding Continental flight (CO892) bound for Palau-Yap-Guam. The refusal, the firm said, came even after Continental employees explained the security requirements of the aviation laws of the United States in detail. "United States aviation law requires that all customers comply with security procedures in order to board a flight. So unfortunately, Continental Micronesia had no choice but to deny boarding of the President and his party to ensure the safety and on-time operation of the flight for other passengers onboard. Elevated level of security has been implemented at the Manila airport and all passengers need to take this security check without any exception,"the firm said. "Continental Micronesia is committed to 100 percent compliance of safety regulations required by the US government, the government of the Philippines, the Federal Aviation Authority, and the Manila Airport Authority,"it added. - GMANews.TV