Cap. 405 Art. 21Power to impose restrictions in relation to aircraft.

(1) For the purposes of this Part of this Act, the Minister may give a direction in writing to the operator of any one or more aircraft registered or operating in Malta, or to the Head Aviation

Security, or to the manager of any airport in Malta requiring him -

(a) not to cause or permit persons or property to go or be taken on board any aircraft to which the direction relates, or to come or be brought into proximity to any such aircraft, unless such searches of those persons or that property as are specified in the direction have been carried out by authorised officers or by other persons of a description specified in the direction; or

(b) not to cause or permit any such aircraft to fly unless such searches of the aircraft as are specified in the direction have been carried out by authorised officers or by other persons of a description so specified.

(2) Subject to the following provisions of this Part of this Act, a direction given to the Head Aviation Security or to the manager of an airport under subarticle (1) may be given so as to relate -

(a) either to all aircraft which at the time when the direction is given or at any subsequent time are in any part of the airport, or to a class of such aircraft specified in the direction;

(b) either to all persons or only to one or more persons, or persons of one or more descriptions, specified in the direction; and

(c) either to property of every description or only to particular property, or property of one or more descriptions, specified in the direction.

(3) Any person who refuses or fails to comply with a direction given to him under this article shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine (multa) not exceeding two thousand and three hundred and twenty-nine euro and thirty- seven cents (2,329.37), or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both such fine and imprisonment.