A Western Australia man faced the Perth Magistrates Court on 25 September 2023, accused of disorderly behaviour and failing to comply with airline staff on board a domestic flight.
AFP officers at Perth Airport responded to a call for assistance from airline staff overnight (24 September, 2023), after an alleged intoxicated passenger verbally abused a cabin crew member and failed to comply with the direction of staff.
Superintendent Peter Hatch said the AFP would not tolerate bad behaviour on board aircrafts or at airports.
“Airline staff are there to ensure the safety of passengers and they, along with every other passenger onboard, deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.”
Supt Hatch added:
“Verbally abusing airline staff and failing to comply with their directions are serious offences. These matters are not something the AFP takes lightly. Bad behaviour on board aircrafts, and in and around airports, impacts everybody’s travel plans, including the hundreds of affected passengers onboard.”
The plane, enroute to Sydney, was forced to turn around and return to Perth due to the man’s alleged behaviour. The incident forced the aircraft to drop fuel in order to land safely.
AFP officers boarded the plane upon its return to Perth Airport and removed the Baldivis man, before escorting him to the Perth Watch House to face charges.
The man, 33, was arrested and charged with the following offences:
- Offensive or disorderly behaviour in aircraft, contrary to regulation 91.580 of Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (Cth); and
- Failing to comply with safety instructions by cabin crew, contrary to regulation 91.580 of Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (Cth).
The maximum penalty for each of these offences is 50 penalty units, which is a maximum of $13,750.
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