A woman who caused panic inside a plane at the Kisumu International Airport on Saturday morning risks being slapped with a fine of up to Sh2 million if found guilty.
Millicent Akinyi, who caused a one-hour delay for 27 other passengers aboard a Jambo Jet flight by smoking an electronic cigarette, was Monday presented before a Kisumu court.
She was accused of interfering with the safety of the KQ5Y-KYM number 874 and those aboard it. The charge further read that she refused to follow instructions by flight authorities to stop smoking.
She denied the charge and told the court, presided over by Lucy Gitari, the chief magistrate, that she was not aware smoking an electronic cigarette was prohibited.
She was released on a bond term of Sh50,000 with a surety of a similar amount or cash bail of Sh20,000.
Akinyi was arrested by airport police after she defied orders by Captain Vaghajian Baresh and flight pursuer Henry Olang to comply with flight rules and regulations.
She is reported to have turned violent when asked to switch off the cigarette, which was causing fear among travellers and interfered with the aeroplane’s electronic gadgets.
Her action was in contravention of section 46 (1) and (2) of the Civil Aviation Act Cap 394.
The Act reads: “A person shall not wilfully or negligently imperil the safety of an aircraft or any person on board, whether by interference with any member of the crew of the aircraft or by tampering with the aircraft or its equipment, or by disorderly conduct or by any other means; cause or permit an aircraft to endanger any person or property; interfere or tamper with an air navigation.”
It spells a fine of not exceeding Sh2 million upon conviction as the consequence for this.