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A Jetstar A320 departing Melbourne was forced to make a U-turn 24 minutes into the flight due to a “terrifying” physical altercation between passengers.
Video footage showed two men exchanging punches before multiple nearby passengers tried to pull them apart. Others are seen attempting to distance themselves from the scene.
The aircraft VH-VQQ landed back at Melbourne on Tuesday and was met by police before the two men were escorted off the plane.
A witness told Nine News that the apparent fight lasted for several minutes, and people began to move around amongst the “commotion” and “yelling”.
“It was unnerving,” the passenger said.
“One gentleman was then escorted to the rear of the aircraft, he had blood on his face… we didn’t hear anything else, we had no information.”
The cause of the fight has yet to be determined, but another passenger explained to Nine News that they had cause for concern well before take-off.
“The guy was aggressive before he got on the plane and we thought ‘surely they won’t let him on the aircraft?’”
The flight path shows the Airbus A320 turned around just south-west of Mansfield and arrived back at Melbourne Airport before 10:30pm on Tuesday.
Passengers claimed the reroute came with no warning as the pilot made the quick decision to divert, adding to the confusion.
Flight JQ582 had reached an altitude of over 17,000ft before making its unannounced descent.
“We didn’t know what was happening,” a passenger commented.
Some people onboard momentarily feared the worst, as one mother noted that she held tightly on to her son during the emergency landing.
Once on the ground, the captain explained his concern for the safety of passengers and his consequent request for a priority landing.
In a statement from Jetstar, a spokesperson said that the airline has “zero tolerance for disruptive and abusive behaviour”.
Allegedly, no arrests had been made at the time of the incident, though Jetstar commented that the matter now lies with the police.
The flight departed from Melbourne again shortly after welfare checks were done on remaining passengers.
According to the spokesperson, they arrived at Brisbane Airport approximately two hours after its originally scheduled arrival time.
“The safety of our passengers and our crew is always our first priority and we thank our customers for their patience,” Jetstar concluded.
Ashley
says:What has come over people, especially since covid has ravaged the planet, that they think the interior of a flying machine at a great height, is the best place to have a brawl?
Maybe implementation of pre-boarding psyche tests’ needs to to done?
It’s about time that Federal legislation was put in place for the doers’ of these sort of upheavals’ face a HUGE $ fine, plus lengthy GAOL sentencing.
To endanger an aircraft, tech &cabin crews’, & other passengers’, is beyond the pale in just so many ways.
Sick of it, & it should be stopped!
Maybe, as an interim measure until legislation catches up, we should start placing Air Marshals’ on board every flight.
Daniel
says:During the boarding process crew are to screen all guest when they check tickets and this person if already trouble prior to boarding should of been picked up during boarding.
Neil
says:I agree there needs to be far better screening processes of people before boarding aircraft at Departure Gates for excessive alcohol,Drugs,or straight-out misbehaviour. Most fellow law-abiding Travellers, Air/ Flight crews, as well as myself are absolutely sick and tired of Bad behaviour, Eg: Brawling & Punch ups & arguing on board flights, putting everyone in danger of serious consequences. The offenders should be dealt with some sort of a lengthy prison term, or better still be made to pay for the enormous cost of having to turn the flight back as well as causing the inconvenience to other passengers having to have their flights delayed and rescheduled!