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SCMP’s Asia desk

An Australian woman could face a maximum of 10 years in jail for allegedly assaulting airline staff at Queensland state’s Gold Coast airport on New Year’s Eve.
The 23-year-old was arrested by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) after officers were notified of a passenger who was reportedly verbally abusive on board the Melbourne-bound flight.
The incident happened before the plane departed, with police boarding the aircraft, hauling the woman off the plane and arresting her.
She was charged with assault and threatening with violence or intimidating a person and a member of the aircraft crew.
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Superintendent Josh Kinghorn said there was zero tolerance for violent or abusive behaviour in the airport or on a plane.
“Other passengers and crew should not be subjected to bad behaviour, it can be quite frightening to be in an enclosed space with someone who is abusive or aggressive,” Kinghorn said in a statement.
“These incidents can also cause delays for other travellers and staff. The AFP works closely with the airline industry to intervene if anyone’s behaviour interferes with the safe operation of a flight.”
The woman will appear before a magistrates’ court on March 25.
Last August, a Malaysia Airlines flight heading to Kuala Lumpur was forced to return to Sydney after a man on board claiming to be carrying explosives threatened to “blow the plane up” and involved in a confrontation with crew members and passengers.
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Police said they had responded to an “emergency incident” at the airport, arresting the 45-year-old suspect and removing travellers from the plane.
But some passengers questioned the perceived delay in taking the suspect into custody, saying police boarded the aircraft three hours after it arrived in Sydney.
“I’m on MH122 now and have zero idea where the hell is the police … there is zero sign of security forces around. Is their plan just to wait till he falls asleep?” national broadcaster ABC quoted a passenger as saying.
As a result of the incident, 32 domestic flights were cancelled, and other domestic flights faced a delay of up to 90 minutes at Sydney airport. There were no international flight cancellations.


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Australia

Australian police arrest woman in aircraft for allegedly assaulting airline staff, verbal abuse

Planes are seen at Kingsford Smith International Airport in Sydney. An Australian woman was arrested and could face up to 10 years in jail for allegedly assaulting airline staff at Queensland state’s Gold Coast airport. Photo: Reuters

Australian man kicked off Scoot flight for slapping passenger, challenging others to fight on Singapore to Manila trip

A passenger on board a Scoot flight headed from Singapore to Manila had to be restrained and escorted off the aircraft. Photo: Reddit

Scoot Airlines had to kick a passenger off a Singapore to Manila flight for displaying “disruptive behaviour”. Photo: Shutterstock


A passenger on board a Scoot flight headed from Singapore to Manila had to be restrained and escorted off of the aircraft by Filipino authorities. Photo: Reddit

The man, who is reportedly Australian, was seen bleeding from the head following the altercation. Photo: Reddit

Australian jailed for making false bomb threat on Singapore-Perth Scoot flight

A man was sentenced to six months’ jail after he pleaded guilty to making a false bomb threat on board a flight from Singapore to Perth. Photo: Shutterstock

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A social media user said they twice hit the Emirates flight’s ceiling, which was left cracked. Photo: X/MattRPD


This Week in Asia

People

News

Asia

Australasia

The incident happened before the plane departed, with police boarding the aircraft, hauling the woman off the plane and arresting her
She was charged with assault and threatening with violence or intimidating a person and a member of the aircraft crew


The 23-year-old was arrested before the plane departed the airport, and charged with assault and threatening with violence or intimidating a person and a member of the aircraft crew.


Aviation

Crime

Queensland

Australian police arrest woman in aircraft for allegedly assaulting airline staff, verbal abuse

The incident happened before the plane departed, with police boarding the aircraft, hauling the woman off the plane and arresting her She was charged with assault and threatening with violence or intimidating a person and a member of the aircraft crew

The incident happened before the plane departed, with police boarding the aircraft, hauling the woman off the plane and arresting her

She was charged with assault and threatening with violence or intimidating a person and a member of the aircraft crew