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Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand's transport minister says he will pay a small fine for violating aviation rules by making a cellphone call from a plane.
The Civil Aviation Authority on Monday fined Phil Twyford 500 New Zealand dollars ($340) for breaching rules it says were intended to prevent electromagnetic interference with aircraft instruments.
The authority says that because Twyford ended his call before takeoff, it did not pose a significant risk to the flight.
Twyford had earlier stepped down from his role overseeing aviation safety after making what he says was a minute-long call to a staffer in May after boarding a plane in Wellington that was bound for Auckland.
The breach was brought to light by an opposition lawmaker.
Twyford says he wants to reiterate his "unreserved apology" for his mistake.
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