Wrangle disrupts honeymoon travel

A heated honeymoon disagreement resulted in a newlywed Indian
tourist couple being escorted from an Air New Zealand flight
at Queenstown Airport on Saturday.

Sergeant Blair Duffy, of Queenstown, said the ATR aircraft
had been due to depart about 9am when cabin staff became
concerned about a ”verbal dispute” between the Indian
husband and wife.

The man (23) had been speaking aggressively in Hindi and the
wife (21) had become emotional and was crying.

The aircraft captain requested the two passengers be taken
from the flight and they were escorted away by police.

The husband then spent about five hours in a Queenstown
police station cell while police made inquiries.

Sgt Duffy said the couple, who had earlier spent two nights
in Queenstown, had been heading to Rotorua. There had been a
”verbal dispute” but no physical assault.

The man had been charged with threatening behaviour, but was
allowed to leave after being given a pre-charge warning, Sgt
Duffy said.

The man had been co-operative during police inquiries and was
”remorseful” for his actions.

Sometimes people could be adversely affected by the strains
of extended travel and of spending considerable periods of
time in confined areas, Sgt Duffy said.

The couple were returned to the airport by Sgt Duffy, in time
to board an Air New Zealand flight to Auckland, which
departed at 6pm on Saturday.

-john.gibb@odt.co.nz