Remember the otter family that visited Changi Airport last month?
Someone filmed the otters scurrying around the premise and circulated the video on social media.
According to the police, photography and filming are not allowed within protected areas at Changi Airport unless authorised.
The prohibited areas are called the “apron” by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
It refers to a defined area to accommodate the aircraft for the following: loading or unloading passengers, mail or cargo, baggage, fuelling, parking or maintenance. Baggage sorting area is also included.
Changi Airport Group has not responded on whether the otter video was taken in a secure area and if it has any polices on the circulation of such videos.
Anyone found guilty of flouting the Protected Areas and Protected Places Act may be fined up to S$1,000, a maximum jail term of two years, or both.
The police is currently investigating this matter but some netizens have urged the authorities to focus on the security lapse instead.
While some may find it cute to see an otter family strolling leisurely on the tarmac, not all feel the same way.
Several netizens are concerned about the danger which the otters could have posed to the aircraft and the otters themselves.
Otters have strong teeth and could damage cables and even sneak inside the plane’s engines.
If they were trapped in the engines, their lives would be endangered and airport operations would be disrupted.
In case you missed the video:
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