A 17-year-old armed with a shotgun and ammunition was tackled to the ground by passengers and crew aboard a Jetstar flight at Avalon Airport near Melbourne, Australia. The dramatic incident occurred on Thursday afternoon as the aircraft, carrying 160 passengers, was preparing to take off for Sydney.
Authorities believe the teenager breached airport security by climbing a fence and making his way onto the tarmac. He then ascended the front steps of the aircraft, where he was overpowered near the entrance. Footage captured by Australian media showed passengers restraining the suspect as a pilot and a ground crew member removed a utility belt he was wearing. A pilot was also seen kicking the shotgun away from him.
The suspect, who has not been identified, was taken into custody and is facing eight charges, including unlawfully taking control of an aircraft, endangering flight safety, and creating a bomb hoax. Victoria Police confirmed that a bomb specialist was called in to inspect a car and two bags found nearby, believed to belong to the suspect.
Superintendent Michael Reid commended the bravery of passengers who noticed the teen was armed as he boarded the plane. “The male was overpowered by at least three passengers,” he said, adding that local authorities were in contact with counterterrorism police, though the motive behind the act remains unclear.
One of the passengers, Barry Clark, told Australian broadcaster ABC that the teen appeared “agitated” and was dressed like an airport worker. Clark, who helped restrain him, recalled, “All I could do was get the gun out of the way… and then put him in a hold and throw him to the ground until the police came.” Fortunately, no one was injured during the incident.
Avalon Airport, which is exclusively served by Jetstar, briefly closed following the security breach but has since reopened. The airline, a budget subsidiary of Qantas, issued a statement thanking passengers and crew for their quick response. “We know this would have been a very distressing situation,” the company said. “We are sincerely grateful to the customers who assisted our crew to safely manage the situation.”
The security lapse raises concerns about airport safety, as questions emerge about how the teenager was able to breach the perimeter and board the plane undetected. Investigations are ongoing, and authorities will likely review security protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.
While the suspect remains in custody, officials are working to determine his intent. Whether this was an act of terrorism, a personal grievance, or something else entirely, the swift actions of passengers and crew may have prevented a potential tragedy.
