A 17-year-old boy from Ballarat in regional Victoria boarded a Jetstar Airways plane at Avalon Airport before being restrained by a pilot and two passengers, including a former professional boxer. The boy had posed as a maintenance worker and became agitated when questioned by a flight attendant.
The incident occurred on Thursday’s Sydney-bound Flight 610, which was carrying about 150 people. Passengers who tackled the suspect credited their bravery in preventing a potential terrorist attack.
Police say the boy had climbed through a hole in the airport’s security fence before making his way to the plane’s stairs. He has been charged with multiple offenses including unlawfully taking control of an aircraft, orchestrating a bomb hoax and possessing a firearm.
The flight was cancelled, but no one was hurt during the incident. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australian airports had robust security measures in place. An investigation is ongoing by crime squad detectives.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/australia-airport-shotgun-jetstar-d0c69307bcd30b7bc9a9333e8cfa9805