Theft disables airport landing system in Stephenville

The landing lights at a western Newfoundland airport were knocked out of commission this week when thieves stole wire and equipment.

About $150,000 worth of materials was stolen earlier this week from the small airport at Stephenville.

Airport manager Larry Smith said officials thought at first that only some of the lights were affected by the robbery. However, on Thursday it became evident that the damage was much more serious.

"We've since noon time found out that actually the whole approach system to Runway 27 is now out of order," Smith said Thursday afternoon.

Smith said the airport cannot use its instrument landing system without those approach lights and that there are implications for air traffic for the rest of the island.

"Generally what happens when the weather is bad on the east coast or for some reason aircraft [must] divert into Stephenville, all of a sudden now the instrument landings system which they would be dependent on is no longer a possibility," he said.

RCMP in Stephenville have made three arrests in the case.

Eric James Young and Christopher Jesso, who appeared in provincial court in Stephenville on Thursday, face several charges, including endangering the safety of aircraft.

They have been remanded to custody and are scheduled to attend a bail hearing on Monday.

A 17-year-old youth was released from custody.

The arrests were made Wednesday night, after RCMP linked the airport's call with an incident from Sunday night.

RCMP Kim Sarson said police had pulled over a car that evening, during a routine roadblock to check for potential drunk drivers.

"The member who spoke with them at the time saw a large amount of copper wire in their back seat, and there [were] also several tools in the back seat," Sarson told CBC News.

At the time, no reports had been made of missing wire.