Police remove man with laptop from plane

Counter terrorism police have removed a man from a Qantas plane for refusing to shut down his laptop computer during a landing in Sydney.

They dealt with the incident at Sydney Airport on Thursday because they were the closest officers available at the time, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) said.

The two officers identified themselves to the businessman as "counter terrorist first response" when they boarded Qantas flight QF418 from Melbourne shortly after it arrived at Sydney about 10.20am (AEST) Thursday.

An AFP spokeswoman said a 35-year-old Melbourne man allegedly refused to comply with an order from the captain of the Qantas plane to shut down his laptop computer.

Laptops and other electronic equipment can interfere with the aircraft's controls.

"The direction related to the shutting down of the man's laptop for landing," the spokesman said.

She said the man was released without charge pending legal advice and assessment of further evidence.

A Qantas spokesman said the passenger had "failed to comply with a directive from the captain".

aap 4 Sep 2008

The use of words that create fear into the minds of the general populous is a great tactic.
This is just another subliminal message to justify the existence of law enforcement against us.

The first line should should have been written like this :

Ayehole removed from plane for not listening !!!