Tokua

The resumption of Fokker flights follows the completion of runway repairs by the National Airports Corporation (NAC).

Since the works on the airport runway commenced in February last year, Air Niugini has been operating to Tokua airport using the 76-seat Q402 and 50 seat DHC-8-315 aircraft, but with passenger numbers restricted to as few as 20 at times because of the shortened runway.

Guards reported that at around 4am, three buses dropped off students from the University of Natural Resources and Environment for their flights out of East New Britain Province.

Whilst waiting for the terminal to open, Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Joseph Tabali, said a group of men numbering around 15 discharged a shot from a homemade gun and attempted to rob the students.

The students retaliated and during the scuffle, one of the suspects, a 17-year-old male from Buka and Duke of York Island, was killed.