Police are investigating after a 17-year-old allegedly boarded a Jetstar flight with a shotgun and ammunition, frightening passengers who described a dramatic citizen’s arrest.
Victoria police were called to Avalon airport outside Melbourne at 2.50pm on Thursday.
An image from inside the plane allegedly showed the teen, who is now in custody, pinned to the floor of the cabin by a fellow passenger. No injuries were reported.
Dressed in hi-vis clothing, the teen was thought to be a maintenance worker when he allegedly entered the airport through a hole in the facility’s fence.
It is alleged he then walked up the boarding staircase and into the plane, where 160 passengers were on board waiting to fly to Sydney.
Victoria police superintendent Michael Reid said the 17-year-old had been detained by three passengers.
“As he’s approached the plane, he’s mounted or climbed the front stairs, to the front of the plane. At that point, passengers have identified the male was carrying a firearm,” Reid said.
“The male was overpowered by three of the passengers at least. And shortly afterwards, police have arrived and taken that male into custody.
“No doubt this would have been a very terrifying incident for the passengers of that plane, and Victorian police really commend the bravery of those passengers who were able to overpower that male.”
Reid said ammunition was found along with the shotgun, but he did not confirm reports that knives and petrol were also found. Authorities did not yet know if the gun was registered.
“[It’s] very concerning that a person can firstly breach security, approach an aircraft and make his way potentially close to being inside a aircraft with a firearm,” Reid said.
“I can’t communicate more clearly how concerning that is.”
Police have located the teenager’s vehicle and are talking to counter-terror teams. He was not known to police.
He is yet to be charged.
Barry in seat 1C ‘confident I could handle him’
Barry Clark was sitting in seat 1C on flight JQ 610 and tackled the teenager to the ground once he realised he allegedly had a weapon.
“The lovely air hostess was just questioning this bloke trying to come on dressed up as a worker,” Clark told ABC Radio.
“He got agitated, and before we know it, there was a gun, a shotgun appeared.
“All I could do was push [the flight attendant] out of the way, get the gun out of the way, break that, throw it down the stairs, and then put him in a hold and throw him to the ground until the police come.”
Clark said the teen “was perfectly dressed for the job, he looked like a technician”.
“You don’t think, you act. I’ve been taught from a boy to be responsible and look after others. And we’re a sporting family, so I was quietly confident I could handle him … so you just gotta do what you gotta do.”
Kim McLeod was on the flight for a work trip.
“We had just boarded the flight, we were sitting down, and all of a sudden there was a commotion down at the front of the cabin, you could tell something was happening because people started filming it.
“The pilot eventually got on the announcer and said that somebody had boarded the plane with a large gun.”
He had allegedly posed as a maintenance worker, McLeod told Guardian Australia.
“That’s how they got on to the plane. It was obviously a breach of security.”
Suspicion was raised after the crew had been told maintenance checks had been completed, but the person dressed as a maintenance worker was onboard.
“A pilot and passenger tackled him to the ground,” McLeod said.
Airport put into lockdown
After he was detained, passengers disembarked the plane and the airport was closed, McLeod said. She said passengers were told their luggage would be delivered to them later. The airport was put in lockdown.
McLeod, who lives in Torquay in Victoria, had been on her way to Sydney for work, but as no further flights were leaving the airport on Thursday, she would now not travel.
Ari Suss, the CEO of Avalon airport, confirmed in a statement the airport was closed to visitors while the incident was investigated.
Jetstar is the only operator of commercial flights at Avalon, Melbourne’s second airport.
In a statement, a Jetstar spokesperson said: “We’re aware of a security incident at Avalon airport this afternoon and are working with police and the airport to urgently understand what has occurred. The safety of our passengers and crew is our number one priority and we can confirm there are no reported injuries.”
