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Vanuatu minister fined for being drunken nuisance on plane rnz.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from rnz.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Vanuatu MP Bruno Leingkon being sworn in as the country s Climate Change minister.
Photo: Hilaire Bule
Two charges relate to breaches of aviation security and one to Vanuatu s leadership code.
They stem from an incident a year ago involving Leingkon on a flight chartered specifically to fly him from Santo in Vanuatu s north to the capital Port Vila.
The minister was displaying signs of intoxication when he boarded the plane, before consuming more alcohol and attempting to smoke a cigarette in the cabin.
The female pilot was instructed by the control tower in Port Vila to return to Santo five minutes after takeoff due to the behaviour of the minister, and concerns for the security of the passengers and the aircraft.
Vanuatu Climate Change Minister, Bruno Leingkon
Photo: RNZ Pacific / Hilaire Bule
The Minister of Climate Change, Bruno Leingkon, is facing charges of breaching aviation regulations.
He is alleged to have been drunk on a trip last year.
It s claimed he harassed a female pilot, causing her to return the flight to Santo soon after taking off.
Today, after his appearance in a preliminary inquiry, Leingkon s associates told journalists they could not take his photo.
When it was pointed out this was not the case, the cabinet minister escaped by using a back door in the courthouse.
Leingkon was a journalist before he become politician and rose to become acting general manager of VBTC.