A Melbourne man is facing court for allegedly transmitting false distress calls to commercial aircraft at Melbourne Airport.
The alleged crime occurred over a two-month period.
“These offences are extremely serious,” said Australian Federal Police Detective Superintendent Simone Butcher.
The 45-year-old man was arrested after police searched his home in Melbourne’s northeast on Saturday.
Australian Federal Police seized four portable radios and “associated equipment” allegedly used to transmit the interference, including two mobile phones with recordings of chants and distress messages.
In September, police were alerted to the incidents by the Australian Media Authority, which discovered someone was using unauthorised access to aviation radio networks to broadcast chants and fake recordings of distress calls, AFP said in a statement.
Investigators “linked the man to the crime” and his home was searched on Saturday.
Following the arrest and seizures, he was charged with three alleged offences: one under the Crimes (Aviation) Act and two under the Radiocommunications Act.
Australian Federal Police have arrested a 45-year-old man after allegedly making hoax distress calls at Melbourne Airport (pictured) over a two-month period.
AFP searched his home and seized four portable radios and “associated material” allegedly used to transmit calls to commercial flights (archive image)
The most serious of his charges carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
He is charged with using a radio transmission capable of impairing the safe operation of an aircraft, with intent to impair the safe operation of that aircraft, and using a radio device other than as authorized by an aircraft license. The third charge is using a transmitter that interfered with radio communications in a manner that was detrimental to the safe operation of an aircraft.
Superintendent Butcher said aviation safety was paramount and appropriate procedures, processes and systems were in place to ensure the safety of aviation operations across the country.
“Anyone who attempts to compromise the safety of the traveling public, through unauthorized or false access to its operations and equipment, will be caught and brought to justice,” he said.
The 45-year-old man appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday afternoon.
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