Authorities at Melbourne Airport in Australia arrested a passenger who caused a commotion by exiting a stationary airliner through an emergency exit, walking along a wing, and climbing down a jet engine onto the tarmac. The incident occurred on Jetstar Flight JQ507, which had just arrived from Sydney and was parked at a terminal gate.
According to Jetstar officials, the man left the plane through the right-side exit, triggering the deployment of an emergency slide. However, instead of using the slide, he walked along the wing and descended one of the Airbus A320's engines. Passengers on board described the man's behavior as erratic and alarming.
Witnesses reported that the man had been vaping during the flight, which is prohibited, and had demanded alcohol from the air crew. His actions escalated as the plane approached the gate, leading to his abrupt exit through the emergency door.
Australian Federal Police were alerted by Jetstar staff and promptly arrested the man for aggressive behavior and breaching aircraft safety protocols. Following his arrest, he was assessed by paramedics and taken to a hospital for further evaluation. Police indicated that charges were likely to be filed at a later time as the investigation continues.
Melbourne Airport praised the swift response of ground crew members who detained the man before police intervention, ensuring the safety of other passengers and airport staff. Despite the disruption caused by the incident, airport operations resumed without immediate danger to individuals on the ground.
Passengers on the flight experienced delays in retrieving their luggage due to the deployment of the emergency slide, with baggage collection being temporarily impacted. However, airport officials confirmed that the situation was resolved, and normal operations resumed after the incident.