In a dramatic confrontation, a 17-year-old armed with a gun and tools, was overpowered by passengers on a Jetstar flight at Avalon Airport in Australia’s Melbourne.
The incident unfolded at 2.20 pm on Thursday when the teenager allegedly attempted to board the plane with around 160 passengers, wearing a high-vis jacket and tool belt.
Chaos erupted after a passenger put the teen in a head-lock and detained him with the help of two other flyers, according to 7NEWS. Upon receiving the information, Victoria police arrived at the spot at 2.50 pm and took the teen into custody.
Victoria Police superintendent Michael Reid told 7NEWS, “No doubt this would have been a very terrifying incident for the passengers of that plane.”
“Victoria Police truly commend the bravery of those passengers, who were able to overpower that male,” Reid added.
Investigation has been launched with police suspecting that the teen may have gained entry to the tarmac through a hole found in the airport’s fence.
“Whether he’s breached that himself, by cutting it, or whether it’s already occurred,” Reid said.
According to the official, the incident is not currently being treated as an act of terrorism as “it’s too early to establish that.” Reid further expressed concern about the security.
“I can’t communicate more clearly how concerning that is,” Reid said. “It would have been a very frightening experience for those passengers involved, but once again I do really commend the bravery of those civilian passengers that helped assist to overpower him.”
Footage obtained by 7NEWS captures the chaotic moments inside the plane. The pilot can be heard instructing passengers to exit through the rear of the aircraft while assisting in disarming the teen. One clip shows the suspect being restrained in a headlock by a passenger, who is heard reassuring him, “I’m not strangling you, mate, but you’re not f****** moving, alright?”
The pilot, appearing to hold what looks like the barrel of a shotgun, is seen kicking the stock of the gun away to prevent further danger.
Meanwhile, a Jetstar spokesperson confirmed that the airline was cooperating with emergency services. “The safety of our passengers and crew is our number one priority, and we can confirm there are no reported injuries,” the statement read.
As a precaution, operations at Avalon Airport were halted for the remainder of the day following the incident. Investigations are ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding the security breach and the teenager’s intentions.