A man who forced open the emergency exit door of a Jetstar plane moments after it landed at Melbourne Airport on Thursday morning has been arrested.
A Jetstar spokesperson said the JQ507 flight from Sydney had just landed in Melbourne about 10am when the passenger jumped up and opened the emergency exit door.
An emergency slide was automatically deployed.
“We can confirm that a passenger opened the emergency exit door after arrival into Melbourne, which automatically deployed the slide,” the Jetstar spokesperson said in a statement.
“The plane was parked at the gate at the time.”
Witnesses said the man, who was wearing a neon orange jumper, climbed onto the plane’s wing and jumped down in front of the engine, before being detained by three ground crew members.
A man was arrested at Melbourne Airport on Thursday morning after he forced open an emergency exit door.Credit: James Gordon/X
The man was arrested by Australian Federal Police at the scene.
Sydney radio producer Audrey Varghese, who was on the Melbourne-bound plane, said the passenger exhibited “strange behaviour” during the flight and ignored the crew’s pleas for him to sit down.
“As soon as the plane started coming to a stop, he immediately got up and basically charged towards the emergency exit and ripped open the emergency door,” she told broadcaster Tom Elliott on Melbourne radio station 3AW.
Varghese said fellow passengers were frightened by his erratic behaviour.
The emergency slide automatically deployed when the emergency exit door was opened.Credit: 3AW
“He was shoving people in the process of trying to get out, despite people telling him not to,” she said.
“It all happened so quickly and was really shocking to be honest.”
An Australian Federal Police spokesperson said the man was arrested for alleged aggressive behaviour and breaching aircraft safety protocols.
“The man was assessed by ambulance officers and later transferred to hospital for further assessment, where he remains,” the statement said.
“AFP is continuing to investigate this matter, and charges are likely to be laid at a future date.”
The man was arrested for alleged aggressive behaviour and breaching aircraft safety protocols.Credit: 3AW
An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said the man was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
In a statement, a spokesperson from Melbourne Airport commended the ground crew’s efforts.
“Melbourne Airport is proud of the exceptional response from ground crew, which meant there was no immediate danger to other passengers or airport staff,” he said.
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