Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services

Hay River (Nov 14/05) - A person riding a bike on the runway at the Hay River airport almost collided with a landing plane last Thursday.

On Nov. 10, at approximately 6:30 p.m., a Beach 200 aircraft had just touched down when the pilot saw a person riding down the centre of the runway, said RCMP.

The pilot used emergency stopping measures and swerved to the left edge of the runway.

"They just missed the person by a hundred feet," said RCMP Const. Jesse Gilbert, relaying what he heard from airport authorities.

The aircraft was a twin-engine medevac airplane, said Kelly O'Connor, the airport manager who was called to the scene.

"I'm at loss for words for why someone would do something like that," O'Connor said.

Maintenance staff scoured the runway to ensure there wasn't anything left on the surface that could cause an accident later.

The airport has previously had problems with trespassers.

A fence is being built to cut the area off from the community, said O'Connor.

Police said the bike used in the incident was found nearby on Friday morning.

The RCMP are currently looking for its owner. There are a few suspects, but so far no charges have been laid, said Gilbert

"The person is very, very lucky to be alive," Gilbert said.

The Hay River RCMP and the airport authority are reminding the public that the airport property is a restricted zone.

Canadian Aviation regulations prohibit anyone from walking, standing, parking, operating any vehicle or causing an obstruction in the movement area of an airport.

The offence is punishable by a fine of $5,000 or up to a year in jail.