A Melbourne man is facing court after allegedly making hoax mayday calls to commercial planes at Melbourne Airport.
The alleged violation occurred within a period of two months.
Australian Federal Police Chief Inspector Simone Butcher said “these offences are extremely serious”.
The 45-year-old was arrested after police searched his home in Melbourne’s northeast on Saturday.
Australian Federal Police have seized four walkie-talkies and associated equipment allegedly used to transmit the jamming, including two mobile phones containing recordings of chants and mayday messages.
Police were alerted to the incidents in September by the Australian Communications Media Authority, where they found someone using unauthorised access to aviation radio networks to broadcast slogans and fake mayday footage, AFP said in a statement.
Investigators “linked the man to the offense” and his home was searched on Saturday.
Following his arrest and confiscation, he was charged with three alleged offences: one under the Aviation Crime Act and two under the Radiocommunications Act.
A 45-year-old man has been arrested by Australian Federal Police after allegedly making hoax mayday calls at Melbourne Airport over a two-month period (pictured)
The AFP searched his home and seized four walkie-talkies and “associated equipment” that were allegedly used to transmit the calls for commercial flights (stock image)
The most serious charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.
He is charged with radio transmission likely to endanger the safe operation of an aircraft, with intent to endanger the safe operation of that aircraft, and with operating a radio device in a manner other than permitted by a device license. The third charge is operating a transmitter that interfered with radio communications in a manner detrimental to the safe operation of an aircraft.
Superintendent Butcher said aviation safety is paramount and that the right procedures, processes and systems are in place to ensure the safety of aviation operations across the country.
“Anyone who attempts to endanger the safety of the travelling public through false or unauthorised access to operations and equipment will be caught and brought to justice,” she said.
The 45-year-old man appeared in court in Melbourne on Monday afternoon.