Aircraft “Sitters” To Leave

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30106, 15 April 1963, Page 9

Aircraft “Sitters” To Leave

(N .Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

DUSSELDORF, April 13

British nuclear disarniers who have been sitting in a chartered aircraft at Dusseldorf refusing to fasten their seat belts to allow the aircraft to fly them out agreed tonight to leave for England tomorrow.

The demonstrators have been sitting in the aircraft, piloted by a bearded Australian, Arthur Lackman, of Sydney, since yesterday when West German authorities refused to let them in the country.

They were to have joined West German anti-nuclear marchers.

They said tonight they would fly out tomorrow on the condition that five members of the German nuclear disarmament group could accompany them on the flight to England, filling spare seats on the aircraft.

A West German police spokesman said he could see no objection to this plan. In the meantime, a spare oil cooler was flown to Dusseldorf from London for the aircraft

The aircraft developed a minor engine fault earlier today when Captain Lackman axied the machine to the runway to attempt a take-off.

However, the nuclear disarmers refused to fasten their safety belts and 15 minutes

later he was forced to taxi the aircraft back to the tarmac.

Since the original 54 members held their “sit-in-strike" aboard the aircraft yesterday six of their members have pulled out. ♦