A wild, shirtless man at the centre of a mid-air brawl on a Singapore-bound flight was arrested after the pilot diverted the plane to Sydney to make an emergency landing – and it seems he will not be charged.
According to witnesses cited by ABC News, a man was drinking heavily before becoming aggressive on the Gold Coast-Singapore flight. He had to be tied up to stop the fighting.
Dramatic images of a man being subdued by five passengers and crew members – and being trussed using cables and apparently given oxygen, have been flashed around the world.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) confirmed they took a “disruptive male passenger” from a Scoot plane into custody at Sydney Airport.
Video recorded by passengers on the low-cost-carrier show a full-on fight, with two men throwing punches at each other.
It seems one was finally put into a chokehold.
Reports yesterday said that even after other passengers and cabin crew managed to separate the two, one of the antagonists was seen talking to a flight attendant – before suddenly taking his shirt off and attacking someone.
Just moments later, several male passengers jumped on the alleged attacker and pinned him down in the aisle.
A Scoot spokesperson told ABC News the man appeared normal during takeoff but soon became unruly.
Shirtless man lies trussed on ground. From footage posted to Facebook by Rico David Garilli
Air Services Australia said the flight captain asked to land at Sydney International Airport.
The airline said it regretted the disruption. Alternative flights to Singapore were organised for passengers.
The incident is likely to renew calls for stronger measures to prevent drunks boarding flights or drinking in the air – and firm sentences to deter such behaviour. In this case, however, those calls seem bound to be frustrated.
The AFP said they would not charge the man and the case was now closed, according to Channel 9 News.
Channel 9 reported the man had been taken away for a mental health assessment.
Written by Peter Needham
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Not charged? Why the heck not? Don’t care what his mental condition was as it was clearly affected by him drinking excessively. Throw him in the slammer and ban him from flying. Stop worrying about the assailant and spare thoughts for the victims for once. Those who were flying to attend meetings, weddings, funerals. Those whose dream holidays have been given a sour taste.
Has anyone noticed that the majority of these incidents happen on budget airlines? Now these carriers offer fares that even these bogans can afford. These idiots who have no idea how to act appropriately when abroad. Same thing has happened on a number of cheaper cruise lines. I mean no offence to the majority but dropping the prices does encourage an element of unruly travellers who otherwise would not be able to afford to travel.
Not charged? Why the heck not? Don’t care what his mental condition was as it was clearly affected by him drinking excessively. Throw him in the slammer and ban him from flying. Stop worrying about the assailant and spare thoughts for the victims for once. Those who were flying to attend meetings, weddings, funerals. Those whose dream holidays have been given a sour taste.
Has anyone noticed that the majority of these incidents happen on budget airlines? Now these carriers offer fares that even these bogans can afford. These idiots who have no idea how to act appropriately when abroad. Same thing has happened on a number of cheaper cruise lines. I mean no offence to the majority but dropping the prices does encourage an element of unruly travellers who otherwise would not be able to afford to travel.