Move FM Australian News

PERTH, Western Australia – A plane flying from the West Australian capital of Perth to Cairns in Queensland, was forced to reverse course, and fly back to Perth after a man on board threatened to blow the plane up.

A 45-year-old Cairns man appeared before Perth Magistrate’s Court on Friday after being charged with allegedly making threats regarding aviation security during a flight from Perth to Cairns earlier on Friday morning. The plane was operated by the Qantas-owned low-cost carrier Jetstar.

The plane’s captain alerted Perth Airport in the early hours of Friday morning the plane was returning. It landed at Perth Airport at 2:45am local time Friday. The plane was met by Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers.

It was alleged in court, an hour after the plane had taken off that the man made a number of offensive comments to other passengers, which included threatening to “blow up the plane,” swearing, and talking about pornography with passengers under the age of 18 years.

Passengers advised the airline crew of the man’s threats, which resulted in the decision to abort the flight, and return the aircraft to Perth.

Federal police officers boarded the plane and arrested the 45-year-old man and he was taken to the Perth Watch House, where bail was refused.

The incident comes two days after a plane carrying 176 people crashed shortly after taking off from Tehran’s international airport, for which evidence is coming to light it was shot down by an Iranian missile. All 176 people on board died in the crash.

“The AFP takes all threats regarding aviation security seriously and will take action against travellers who engage in offensive behaviour,” Perth Airport Police Commander Peter Brindal said Friday.

“Offensive behaviour such as this can result in a criminal conviction, a hefty fine, and the possibility that airline operators will undertake civil action to recover expenses associated with returning and removing passengers doing the wrong thing,” he added.

(File photo).