VICTORIA- A 17-year-old armed with a loaded shotgun was arrested Thursday after breaching security at Avalon Airport (AVV) in Victoria, Australia, and attempting to board a Jetstar (JQ) flight bound for Sydney (SYD).
The teenager cut through a fence and tried to enter the aircraft cabin via the front stairs in what police described as a major security breach. Dressed as a maintenance worker, the teen was confronted by a flight attendant before the situation escalated.
Photo: By BriYYZ from Toronto, Canada – Jetstar Boeing 787-8 VH-VKA, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=68188859Jetstar Flight Hijack
Three passengers on the 150-person flight noticed the weapon and intervened. Passenger Barry Clark tackled the teenager when he produced the shotgun during an interaction with a crew member.
“Before we knew it, a shotgun appeared,” Clark told ABC Radio Melbourne. “I was worried about it being shot, so all I could do was push her out of the way, get the gun out of the way, break that gun and throw it down the stairs, and then put him in a hold, throw him to the ground until the police came.”
Clark noted the suspect carried “other apparatus” that raised concerns about his intentions. “I didn’t want to see that poor girl get shot, you just gotta do what you gotta do,” he added, referring to the flight attendant he protected.
Victoria Police Superintendent Michael Reid confirmed detectives are investigating the teenager’s motive in coordination with counterterrorism officers. However, Reid emphasized it was premature to classify the incident as terrorism-related.
Following standard procedure for cases involving minors, police have not released the teenager’s identity.
Photo by WikiCommonsTeen Breaches Airport Security
A bomb squad was deployed to Avalon airport after authorities discovered two bags inside the teenager’s car following his armed breach attempt. Officials later declared the vehicle safe.
Victoria Police Superintendent Michael Reid detailed the incident, explaining that the teenager climbed the front stairs of the aircraft when passengers identified the firearm. “The male was overpowered by three of the passengers at least. And shortly afterwards, police have arrived and taken that male into custody,” Reid stated.
Reid emphasized the traumatic nature of the event for those onboard. “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.”
The superintendent confirmed the teen carried ammunition with the shotgun, expressing serious concerns about the security breach. “It is very concerning that a person can firstly breach security, approach an aircraft and make his way potentially close to being inside an aircraft with a firearm. I can’t communicate more clearly how concerning that is,” he said.
A second passenger involved in subduing the teenager, identified only as Woodrow, described the incident to ABC. After everyone had boarded, he heard a “kerfuffle and saw the pilot and this other guy tackling this young boy” wearing a high-visibility vest.
“In a split second, the gentleman Barry Clark in 1C saw him and jumped him, tackled him, and got him in a choke lock, disarmed him,” Woodrow recounted. He added that the pilot joined the effort along with himself and another man who helped “support and hold him down.”
Jetstar released a statement confirming their cooperation with police and airport officials to investigate the incident. “The safety of our passengers and crew is our number one priority and we can confirm there are no reported injuries,” an airline spokesperson said.
Following the incident, Avalon airport closed to visitors until further notice, with all Thursday evening flights canceled or rerouted.
Photo: By Simon_sees from Australia – Sydney Airport, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72845384Sydney Airport Bomb Threat
A 44-year-old Brisbane man appeared in court facing serious charges after allegedly making a bomb threat on a plane at Sydney Airport on January 14.
Australian Federal Police claim the man referenced a bomb while talking on his mobile phone just before the aircraft was scheduled to depart. Officers immediately removed him from the plane and subsequently discovered he was traveling under a false identity.
Authorities conducted a thorough search of the aircraft but found no evidence of an actual threat. The man faces two charges: taking a constitutional flight using a ticket obtained with false identity information and threatening aviation security. These offenses carry maximum penalties of one year imprisonment and a $16,500 fine respectively.
The accused appeared via video link at Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday, where he pleaded not guilty to both charges. The court granted him permission to appear remotely from Queensland, where he resides, for his next court date on March 13.
AFP Detective Superintendent Morgen Blunden emphasized that the AFP maintains zero tolerance for any threats to aviation security, whether explicitly stated or overheard.
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