Jetstar flight forced to turn around after passenger’s alleged ‘threatening’ behaviour to flight attendant

A flight was forced to turn around after a male passenger allegedly harassed a female crew member.

A passenger on-board the flight, travelling from Brisbane to Perth on Tuesday night, said a man in his 30s had been moved to the back of the plane after “harassing some of the women”, according to The West Australian.

“An air hostess mentioned that he had been threatening,” the passenger told the masthead,

“We don’t know exactly what he was saying, but the air hostess was speaking to a passenger in front of us and she was quite distressed and upset.”

The woman, travelling home with her two children, said other passengers told her the man had been following the flight attendant up and down the aisle.

“I tried not to look back to see what was happening, but the air hostess did come past at one stage … and she looked pretty teary and upset; meanwhile, the guy was literally standing behind her,” the passenger said.

“The poor air hostess was going up and down (the plane) and she was young and he was trailing her the whole way.”

The man also allegedly got into an altercation with another passenger, the woman said, and added she believed the man was intoxicated.

Passengers were told to prepare for landing, with the plane up in the air for about 2½ hours.

An Australian Federal Police spokesperson confirmed a 38-year-old North Queensland man was charged with one count of offensive or disorderly behaviour on an aircraft after the plane landed back in Brisbane.

“He was charged following alleged actions on a flight from Perth to Brisbane on Tuesday night,” the spokesperson said.

Other passengers on-board the flight were booked into a hotel and put on another flight on Wednesday.

It’s understood the man has received a no-fly ban following the incident.

A Jetstar spokesperson thanked customers for their “understanding and patience while our crew managed the situation in the air”.

“We will never tolerate disruptive behaviour on our aircraft as safety is our No.1 priority,” the spokesperson said.

The man was granted bail and is set to front the Brisbane Magistrates Court on January 20.