Authorities say a review of prisoner transport safety will be undertaken after a "very scary" incident in which a 17-year-old detainee allegedly lunged at a pilot as he was being transferred from Broome to Perth on board a charter flight.
The flight carrying the boy and two other teenage detainees, who were being transferred to Banksia Hill Detention Centre, was forced to turn around and return to Broome yesterday.
The 17-year-old had earlier faced court accused of dangerously driving a stolen car through the centre of Broome on Monday, sparking a police chase and the lockdown of the local high school.
WA Corrective Services Commissioner Mike Reynolds said all three detainees had been handcuffed on the plane, and the 17-year-old gave no warning before his alleged actions.
"A few minutes into the flight one of the detainees decided to get out of his seat and move towards the pilot," Mr Reynolds told ABC Radio Perth.
"He was restrained by a youth custodial officer and taken down because he continued to struggle, and once he was on the ground he started to kick at the plane infrastructure."
Mr Reynolds said the teenager would be taken to the Banksia Hill Detention Centre in Perth to be assessed.
He said the new youth facility at Casuarina Prison, known as Unit 18, is only used when "we don't believe we can safely manage the detainees within the infrastructure".
The transfer of teenage boys to the isolated unit in the maximum-security adult prison has been criticised by the WA Commissioner for Children and Young People and a former president of the Children's Court of Western Australia.
Custodial staff 'did fantastic job'
Mr Reynolds said the two other teenage detainees also began to struggle, but staff managed to bring the situation under control quickly.
"It was very scary for all involved but I think they [the custodial staff] did a fantastic job," he said.
He said staff had assessed the 17-year-old as being safe to fly before he got on the plane, something he believed was an appropriate assessment at the time.
However, a review of the safety aspects of transporting prisoners would be undertaken.
Mr Reynolds said the other two detainees were flown to Perth later on Wednesday, while the 17-year-old was transported on Thursday evening, touching down at 8pm.
He has been charged with assaulting a public officer and committing an act with intent to prejudice the safe use of an aircraft.
'Other restraints' may be used
Mr Reynolds said "other security measures" could be used if necessary to keep the boy safe.
"I'm not going to go into security details but we do have other options and other restraints," he said.
Premier Mark McGowan said it was a disturbing incident.
"Can I pass on my thoughts and thanks to the staff and the pilots on that aircraft for the way they managed a very very difficult situation," he said.
"This sort of extreme behaviour is what we're dealing with and it's completely and utterly unacceptable."
State government criticised
Noongar woman and human rights lawyer Dr Hannah McGlade said the state government was "not concerned about the lives of Aboriginal people and youth".
"I hope minister Tony Buti, as the new Aboriginal affairs minister, can support Aboriginal youth justice alternatives," she said.
"And to hear this story of the young boy, who was obviously very frightened about being sent to Banksia, he should be frightened.
"Because what would await him there is very serious, horrific treatment which has been denounced by the office of inspector of custodial services as violating international human rights law.
"And children are being very much affected."
