Australian Federal Police charge Queensland aviation company owner over alleged black flight to Indonesia
A man is facing serious charges after allegedly organising a secret flight to help two Australian fugitives escape to Indonesia.
A Queensland aviation company owner has been charged over an alleged international smuggling plot to fly two Australian fugitives out of the country on a secret “black flight”.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) said the men, both from NSW, were allegedly to be moved first to Queensland before being flown to Indonesia.
Investigators attached to the North Queensland Joint Organised Crime Taskforce (JOCTF) charged the aviation company owner on Wednesday after executing search warrants in South East Queensland and Rockhampton.
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Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer alleged the plan was organised over a week, with the fugitives boarding in Port Stuart and the aircraft’s transponder deactivated to avoid detection.
The flight allegedly landed in Indonesia, where two pilots were detained along with the passengers.
One of the men was out on bail, while the other had outstanding arrest warrants.
The aviation company owner has been charged with two counts of people smuggling and is expected to appear in Ipswich Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
