Norwegian aircraft evacuated after pilot refuses to go through security

Airline Industry Information, March 15, 2005

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2005 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

An aircraft operated by the airline Norwegian Air Shuttle (Norwegian) was evacuated this morning (15 March) at Oslo's Gardermoen airport after the pilot refused to go through security.

There were reportedly attempts to get the pilot to go through the security check, but he refused and went to the cockpit of the Boeing 737-300, according to the Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet. An airport spokesman said that pilots have to follow the same rules as passengers regarding security and as he was not cleared, the aircraft could not be cleared for take-off. Under security rules an aircraft has to be evacuated if a person enters who has not been cleared by security.

According to the newspaper, the pilot's access card has been blocked and the aviation authorities will take a look at the incident, while the pilot will also have to explain his actions to the airline management.

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