Passengers and crew have been praised for their bravery after they restrained and disarmed a 17-year-old attempting to board a plane in Australia with a loaded shotgun on Thursday.
The incident took place at Avalon Airport, near Melbourne, in the state of Victoria.
Victoria Police Superintendent Michael Reid said the boy entered the airport through a hole in the security fence, before approaching a Jetstar Airways plane that was preparing for take-off.
“This would have been a very terrifying incident for the passengers of that plane and Victoria Police really commend the bravery of those passengers who were able to overpower that male,” Reid said.
Reid singled out two passengers and a pilot for their roles in disarming the teenager before police arrived.
Barry Clark, a former professional boxer, was one of the passengers involved in restraining the suspect.
Clark said he noticed the boy had grown agitated at the plane’s entrance, where he was being questioned by a flight attendant.
In an interview with Network 10 television, Clark said he then spotted the gun.
After approaching the boy from behind, Clark said he “put him in a bit of a lock”, “threw him to the floor” and then held him in position by putting his knee on the boy’s back.
The teenage suspect has been charged with numerous offences, including unlawfully taking control of a plane and possessing a weapon.
Responding to the incident, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese insisted that the country’s airports have robust security.
“This incident is concerning for members of the public. I commend the work of police and aviation officials in responding to it quickly,” he said.
Ari Suss, Avalon Airport’s chief executive, said his organisation had implemented further security measures as a result of Thursday’s event.
Meanwhile, Jetstar, a budget subsidiary of Qantas Airways, said it was working with the police and the airport to understand what had happened.
The flight, which was supposed to carry about 150 people to Sydney, was cancelled.
