SECURITY men grappled with photographers amid chaotic scenes yesterday at Macau international airport during ceremonies to mark the delivery of the first aircraft for Air Macau.
Macau Governor-General Vasco Rocha Vieira and Xinhua (New China News Agency) Macau branch director Wang Qiren welcomed the arrival of the aircraft, an Airbus Industrie A321, with speeches on the apron.
But the lack of microphones meant they could not be heard by the hundreds of people - including Macanese and Chinese government officials, airport and airline representatives - who gathered to watch.
This did little to mar the excitement as the Airbus appeared through overcast skies to become the first commercial aircraft to land on the single runway.
The terminal resounded to wild cheering and clapping when the aeroplane, in Air Macau's purple and red, touched down at about 10.40 am, completing its 15-hour delivery flight from Airbus' Hamburg factory.
Mr Vieira said its arrival was 'an unforgettable event for Macau'.
Guo Jiading,, head of the Chinese side in the Sino-Portuguese Joint Liaison Group, said the Chinese Government had always supported the project.