It wasn’t even the right plane but that didn’t stop angry passenger causing a major security breach when he stormed the tarmac at Melbourne Airport and attempted to break into a Jetstar aircraft.
A video released by 9news shows the passenger, who had missed his flight to Adelaide, trying to pull open the door of an aircraft as airport staff believed to be baggage handlers raced up the stairs to apprehend him.
The video shows the man partially opening the door bracing himself with his feet or kicking the door of the Sydney-bound plane.
He is later seen being led off by police.
The man reportedly became irate with physical with Jetstar staff after arriving late for his flight.
He then started smoking inside the terminal and ran to the nearest gate where he punched a cabin manager and injured two two cabin crew trying to restrain him.
Jetstar confirmed that several crew members had been injured and said two flights were delayed by the incident.
“We praise our crew for safely handling this incident and restraining the passenger until police arrived,’’ the airline said in a statement.
“This behavior is unacceptable and we have placed an immediate ban on this passenger traveling on all Jetstar and Qantas flights.”
The Australian Federal Police confirmed that the man had been taken into custody and was being interviewed.
Ironically, the incident comes just two days after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull andHome Affairs Minister Peter Dutton used Melbourne Airport as a platform for discussing tougher security measures announced in the recent federal budget.
These include body scanners at domestic airports, advanced X-ray machines and new rules allowing police to ask for ID without cause.
READ about new police powers at airports.
The ID rule is responding to cases where the AFP officers in certain circumstances do not have the authority to request or demand proof of identity in airports.
