KUALA LUMPUR – A passenger had to be tackled to the ground and restrained mid-air after being highly disruptive during Qantas flight QF46 heading to Melbourne from Bali early today.
Footage shared online showed that a group of passengers helped pin down a man to the cabin floor while a flight attendant tried to restrain him.
Upon arriving at Melbourne just before 7am, Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers boarded the plane and questioned the 28-year-old man before taking him for a medical assessment, reported the Sydney Morning Herald.
“The AFP will continue to investigate the incident. No charges have been laid at this stage,” said a police spokesman.
Witnesses were quoted as saying that the man suddenly started screaming and behaving aggressively, scaring other napping passengers.
Australia’s Nine News reported that two passengers tried to lift the man’s legs, while another held on to an arm in a bid to restrain him.
Another witness posted a video on Instagram with the caption: “He’s still been restrained after 4 hours. Everyone is safe. What a bloody flight!”
A Qantas spokesman said the airline was working with authorities and the company has zero tolerance for disruptive or threatening behaviour. – December 31, 2023