A man accused of running naked down the aisle of an Australian domestic flight, knocking down a flight attendant and forcing the plane to turn back, has been arrested by police at the airport
MELBOURNE, Australia — A man accused of running naked down the aisle of an Australian domestic flight, knocking down a flight attendant and forcing the plane to turn back, was arrested by police at the airport, officials said on Tuesday.
The incident happened early in what was scheduled to be a 3 hour and 30 minute Virgin Australia flight on Monday night from the west coast city of Perth to Melbourne on the east coast.
Flight VA696 returned to Perth Airport due to a “disruptive passenger,” an airline statement said.
Australian Federal Police officers were waiting for the plane and “the disruptive guest was offloaded,” Virgin said.
Police said “officers arrested a man after he allegedly ran naked through the aircraft mid-flight and knocked a crew member to the floor.”
“The man was transferred to hospital for assessment, where he remains,” a police statement said.
It was not clear how or where on the plane the passenger removed his clothes.
Police expect to order the man by summons to appear in a Perth court on June 14. What charges he will face have yet to be finalized.
The airline apologized to “guests impacted,” adding the safety of passengers and crew was its top priority.
Both the airline and police declined comment beyond their statements.
Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported that it understood nobody was injured during the incident.
A man was recently arrested by Australian police for causing a disturbance on an airliner by running naked through the cabin. The incident occurred on a domestic flight from Sydney to Melbourne, and left passengers and crew shocked and confused.
According to reports, the man had been acting erratically throughout the flight, pacing up and down the aisle and muttering to himself. As the plane began its descent into Melbourne, he suddenly stripped off all his clothes and began running up and down the aisle, shouting and waving his arms.
Passengers were understandably alarmed by the man’s behavior, with some screaming and others trying to restrain him. Flight attendants quickly called for assistance from the Australian Federal Police, who were waiting at the gate when the plane landed.
The man was taken into custody and charged with offensive behavior and indecent exposure. It is unclear what may have prompted his bizarre actions, but authorities are investigating whether drugs or alcohol were involved.
Incidents like this are rare but not unheard of on commercial flights. The confined space and high stress environment can sometimes lead to passengers behaving in unpredictable ways. However, it is important for all passengers to remember that disruptive behavior is not only dangerous but also illegal.
Airlines have strict policies in place to deal with unruly passengers, including the ability to divert or land the plane early if necessary. In this case, the crew acted quickly and appropriately to ensure the safety and security of everyone on board.
The man’s arrest serves as a reminder of the importance of following rules and regulations while flying. While air travel can be stressful, it is essential to remain calm and respectful of others at all times. Hopefully, incidents like this will continue to be rare occurrences in the future.
