South African airline Airlink on Tuesday suspended all flights to and from Nampula, Mozambique, citing the risk of its aircraft being seized.

Passengers booked on the affected flights can receive a full refund, or be rerouted via the carrier’s other destinations in Mozambique, namely Maputo, Beira or Vilanculos.

The threat of the seizure of the aircraft stems from a legal claim filed by two Mozambican citizens, who allege damages against Airlink.  On December 28, a Mozambican court granted the applicants an interim order to seize three Airlink aircraft, pending the outcome of the case, with a hearing scheduled for the middle of this month.

“Given the threat and potential for the actual seizure of Airlink aircraft, we have suspended all operations to and from Nampula while the matter is dealt with through legal and diplomatic channels,” says Airlink CEO and MD Rodger Foster. “We realise this has harmful consequences for trade, tourism and both business and leisure travel between the affected markets, but no airline can be expected to continue providing a service under such conditions.”

The claimants were passengers on a December 7 Airlink flight and were offloaded in Johannesburg for alleged threatening and unruly behavior. Their accompanying family members also disembarked, voluntarily. The airline states that this was done in accordance with South African civil aviation regulations, and that it informed the relevant authorities of the incident.

“[A]s the safety and well-being of its passengers, crew and aircraft come before any other operational consideration, Airlink has a strict zero-tolerance policy with regards to unruly behaviour onboard its aircraft,” he emphasises. “Any interference, threats or belligerence towards our crew, or disruption to the crew’s primary task of providing passenger safety, puts the lives of all onboard at risk.”

The airline has appointed legal counsel in Mozambique, to uphold its rights under Mozambican law and to block the court order, on the grounds that any seizure of any of its aircraft would be unlawful.

The airline contends that Mozambican courts lack jurisdiction over the incident, which occurred in South Africa under South African law, and points to the “dubious circumstances” surrounding the claim and court order.