Merpati (Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta) flight MZ6516 operated by a MA-60 turboprop from Kupang to Bajawa was barred from landing at Bajawa Turelelo-Soa Airport on Saturday, December 21, 2013 after a local bureaucrat became enraged when told the outbound flight was full. “I had a meeting with the Ngada District Council [DPRD] to discuss development in Ngada, including airport facilities enjoyed by Merpati,” Marianus Sae, the district head of Ngada, East Nusa Tenggara, said. “As district head, I forbid Merpati from landing at Turolelo Soa airport because as a state-owned company, Merpati did not support development in our region.” Mr Sae then ordered public order agency [Satpol PP] officials to block Merpati from using the airport. However, the incident has now landed Mr Sae in hot water with the police, who have now sought permission from the province's governor to bring him in for questioning. The alleged action "clearly violated the law" and was punishable by up to three years in prison, provincial police chief Ketut Yoga Ana told the Jakarta Post. Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi waded into the melee stating Sae had endangered the lives of the people on board.