Using his phone and being drunk on a flight into Dunedin has cost a 23-year-old man $1100.
He was met by police officers at Dunedin International Airport when his Air New Zealand flight from Auckland landed about 9pm on Monday.
Air New Zealand confirmed the flight captain requested police intervention.
The Dunedin man was ''more than moderately intoxicated'' as he travelled on Air New Zealand flight NZ679 from Auckland to Dunedin, Senior Constable Brice Horner said.
The man was observed by other passengers having an extended conversation on his cellphone as the flight approached Dunedin airport. He claimed to have been playing games on the device, but that was not supported by witness accounts, Snr Const Horner said.
''But most importantly his phone was not in flight mode. It was operating throughout that period of time and therefore endangering the safety of the aircraft.''
Police issued him with a $1100 infringement notice - $600 for becoming intoxicated on an aircraft and $500 for using an electronic device.
''He was intoxicated but there are no reports that he was behaving in an objectionable or a violent manner,'' Snr Const Horner said.
There were generally between one and 10 such cases each year - enough to be of concern to police.
The CAA was not requested to attend the incident, nor was its security service, Avsec.
According to Air New Zealand's website, modern aircraft are fitted with sensitive electronic equipment which can be affected by some types of electronic equipment carried by passengers.
- Additional coverage by APNZ.
