THE Federal Government has issued a "please explain" to Qantas after it failed to report a bomb prank by a Queensland State of Origin star on a flight from Sydney to Melbourne.
Airport security was called aboard flight QF 427 after rugged Bulldogs rugby league forward Nate Myles was overheard asking teammate Hazem El Masri as crew prepared for take-off: "Have you got the bombs strapped on?"
The bomb jibe should have resulted in Myles being charged with a federal offence under new security laws.
The Aviation Transport Security Act introduced last year imposes a maximum $5500 fine for uttering such threats, even those made in jest.
Despite the stringent anti-terror law, Myles - who will play for the Maroons in the Origin series decider in Melbourne on Wednesday night - escaped with only a verbal reprimand. This was because Qantas failed to refer the matter to the Australian Federal Police or the Department of Transport and Regional Services.
A spokeswoman for Acting Federal Transport Minister Jim Lloyd said the department had no knowledge of the incident until contacted by The Sunday Mail yesterday.
"The incident has not been referred to either the Australian Federal Police or the Department of Transport and Regional Services," she said.
"The department has officially requested more information from Qantas about the circumstances surrounding this particular incident.
"When an incident is deemed a security threat, they have to notify us."
An AFP spokesman confirmed federal police were not notified and therefore did not investigate.
The incident happened on June 22, when the Bulldogs were travelling to Melbourne for a Friday night match against the Storm.
The flight attendant who overheard Myles' remark immediately alerted the plane's captain.
Airport security staff boarded the plane, delaying the flight 40 minutes as they interviewed Bulldogs chief executive Malcolm Noad, coach Steve Folkes and Myles.
Mr Noad last night told The Sunday Mail the club deeply regretted the incident.
"One of the players sitting next to Hazem said, 'Have you got the bombs strapped on,' " he said.
"A flight attendant heard him and reported it to the captain. The captain then passed it on to airport security. Understandably they take these things very seriously.
"Steve Folkes and I had to go and talk to the security officers. It delayed the take-off for about half an hour.
"The player originally thought it was a bit of a joke and obviously didn't appreciate the repercussions.
"We've spoken to him and we've spoken to all the players. There'll be no further action."
Gavin Orr, the manager of Myles, said: "It was a silly thing to do and the club has reprimanded him.
"Even if it's a joke, you've got to be careful what you say."
A Qantas spokesman said: "The Canterbury Bulldogs did travel on QF 427 on Thursday, June 22. A player was questioned in relation to an inappropriate comment.
"The matter was investigated and the player was allowed to travel."
Myles' mother Janet Evans said her son was extremely upset and remorseful about the incident.
She said Myles - an affable and talented young footballer from far north Queensland - never meant any harm by the comment.
"He was only talking to Hazem, it was not meant for anyone else's ears," Ms Evans said from her Cairns home.
Ms Evans said there was no need to counsel Myles over the incident.
"He didn't mean anything by it and he's very upset, very remorseful," she said.
"Nate's a good kid and he realises it's something that shouldn't have happened. It's not in his nature to do anything like that."
Other flying jesters who have not been so lucky include a 60-year-old Wagga Wagga man who joked that another passenger was carrying an explosive device.
His April 4, 2005, remarks caused a Regional Express aircraft to abort its takeoff from Sydney airport.
He was charged by AFP officers and fined $3000.
And on January 24, 2004, Queensland businessman William Bunting, 57, was arrested at Cairns airport when he allegedly told security officers he planned to board the plane and "tell them all I'm the bomber".