‘Massive’ security breach as teen with shotgun arrested at Avalon Airport

Heroic Moama farmer and shearer Barry Clark has told of what compelled him to take action when a shotgun-toting 17-year-old somehow made his way on to a Jetstar flight at Avalon Airport.

A Moama station farmer who dragged down a teen with a loaded shotgun in a dramatic Victorian airport security breach has revealed he “just didn’t want to see anyone get hurt”.

Farmer and shearer Barry Clark, who was a passenger on the flight and took down the teenager, told the Herald Sun on Thursday night he was “the closest person who could help in the situation”.

“I’m relieved we were all able to get home safely at the end of the day,” he said.

Investigations were under way on Thursday night after the weapon-toting 17-year-old somehow made his way on to Jetstar flight JQ610 at Avalon Airport, near Geelong.

Video shows the moment the teen was restrained on the Sydney-bound aircraft at 2.50pm.

A passenger with a boarding pass sticking out of his top pocket – believed to be Mr Clark – had his hand over the youth’s throat while a pilot close by held what appeared to be the double-barrel section of a longarm after it had been hastily disassembled.

A woman from airline staff was shown on video taking the stock of a gun off the plane.

The Herald Sun has been told the teen – from the Ballarat region – had a toolbox that contained the gun and other weapons.

A security source said they feared what was to come next.

Mr Clark, who is from the Perricoota Station in Moama, intervened ­moments after the youth in the vest appeared.

The 17-year-old was restrained by passenger Barry Clarke and crew members. Picture: 7News

The teen got onto the plane with a loaded shotgun. Picture: Channel 7

A woman from airline staff was shown on video taking the stock of a gun off the plane.

Mr Clark intervened ­moments after the youth in the vest appeared.

He said the teen had been unable to present any credentials to a flight attendant as he tried to board the plane.

“He got agitated. Before we knew it, there was a shotgun appeared,” Mr Clark said.

“He had other apparatus on him. I don’t know what his full intention was. It looked like he was trying to get into the cockpit, actually.

The dramatic incident unfolded at Avalon Airport. Picture: Alison Wynd

The teen was taken away by police.

“You don’t think … you act. I didn’t want to see that poor girl (the flight attendant) get shot.”

Mr Clark said the teen was “dressed perfectly” for whatever he was trying to achieve.

The farmer had been flying to Sydney to see Swans backman Jake Lloyd play his 250th AFL game, as a mate of Lloyd’s father Tony.

“We’ll get to the game, for sure,” he said.

Barry Clarke was on his way to watch Sydney’s Jake Lloyd play this weekend. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Jetstar passenger Daniel Defino said he was sitting next to Barry when it all unfolded.

He told Seven News he had just boarded the plane when the teen “came on saying he needed to do maintenance work”.

“That’s when the flight crew started to get nervous because there wasn’t any planned,” he said.

“Then the pilot saw the shotgun and leapt on to him. There was a guy next to us named Barry, he got him in a headlock and that’s when I started recording.

“He (the suspect) was dead silent, there was no emotion in his eyes at all, it was scary.

“Barry and the pilot saved us, 100 per cent.”

A teen has attempted to take a gun on to a commercial Jetstar flight at Avalon Airport. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

It is believed the suspect had parked his car near a high chain perimeter fence and cut it to get in.

Sources have told the Herald Sun it was believed he was mistaken for an engineer by those who saw him wearing a high-vis vest and a tool belt as he made his way to the plane.

Witnesses on the plane told loved ones the youth walked calmly across the tarmac.

They said he got on board then opened his vest to reveal a weapon before the courageous onlookers jumped on him.

The incident shut down the airport as police flooded the complex and security staff ensured it was safe.

The security breach was described by one source as “massive”.

“He (the gunman) got airside,” that source said.

“It’s huge, especially with the air show pending. It’ll be absolute pandemonium.”

Jetstar and Avalon confirmed the incident, an airport spokesman saying visitor access had been shut down.

“We are aware of an incident at Melbourne Avalon Airport that occurred at 2.54pm today,” he said.

“We are currently investigating the situation and our immediate focus is on the safety of our passengers and staff. This matter is currently being managed by Victoria Police, and we are co-operating fully with their investigation.

Jetstar confirmed one of its planes had been involved and that no one was injured.

“We’re aware of a security incident at Avalon airport this afternoon and are working with police and the airport to urgently understand what has occurred,” a spokesman said.

The incident brought back memories of David Mark Robinson’s 2003 attempts to hijack a passenger flight from Melbourne.

He used sharpened stakes to stab two staff on the Launceston-bound service before he was restrained by brave ­passengers.

Originally published as ‘Massive’ security breach as teen with shotgun arrested at Avalon Airport