Belligerent woman dragged off plane at Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport, threatens to shoot worker
Police dragged a Brisbane woman who threatened to shoot an airport worker off a plane after she was asked to stop filming fellow passengers.
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A Brisbane grandmother of seven was dragged off a plane by police at the Toowoomba Airport after threatening to shoot the manager of Wellcamp, a court has heard.
Aleipatalemele Se’u, 58, fronted the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Tuesday, January 16, and pleaded guilty to obstructing police and behaving in an offensive and disorderly manner on an aircraft.
The court heard the woman began drinking before her REX flight from Brisbane to St George on Wednesday morning, December 20, because she was excited about being on a small aircraft and said she felt like she was travelling to Hawaii.
Police prosecutor Tim Hutton said when the plane stopped at Wellcamp about 9.30am for more passengers to board, Se’u began filming passengers and staff despite being asked by the pilot to stop.
“(Her) behaviour unfortunately got worse and unruly which started to concern passengers,” he said.
He said the pilot repeatedly asked Se’u to get off the plane, but she refused.
“She was warned police would be involved, (she) simply replied ‘good, ring them’.”
The Wellcamp manager boarded the plane and sat with the woman before asking her to get off, however Se’u threatened to shoot her.
Sergeant Hutton said when police arrived, officers handcuffed Se’u in an attempt to remove her from the plane without further incident.
“(She) argued with police the entire way, refused to walk down the stairs hooking her foot around the doorway preventing police from guiding her down.
“Police eventually had to physically remove her foot, pulling her along down the stairs.”
Se’u also refused to get into the police car.
Once at the Toowoomba Police Station, officers carried out a breath analysis test which recorded a reading of 0.221 per cent.
While acting as duty lawyer, solicitor Alysha Jacobsen represented Se’u and told the court the full-time carer was flying out west to retrieve her car after leaving it with a friend.
“It was the first time she had ever been on a small plane, she was quite excited and very happy about it... and obviously commenced drinking alcohol,” she said.
Mrs Jacobsen said initially Se’u and the passengers were chatting amicably, and she was filming to create memories of the trip.
“She felt like she was on her way to Hawaii and that she could see everything from where she was on the plane, including the pilot,” she said.
“Her excitement obviously extended, I suppose, and ultimately it has caused issues on the flight.
“She is very remorseful… and does regret her behaviour.”
The court heard Se’u was very worried about getting off the flight at Toowoomba because she had nowhere to stay and no alternative transport to continue to St George, or return to Brisbane.
Magistrate Louise Shephard said she was not prepared to let the woman off with a slap on the wrist, noting she kept a plane full of people waiting and threatened to shoot someone.
“It’s certainly not trivial,” she said.
“This is the type of behaviour we’re seeing now on reels online/social media, with the behaviour of Americans on their planes.
“It’s certainly not something I would expect from a 58-year-old woman with a very limited history.
“I can only think that your gross intoxication was behind it – of course that does not (excuse it).
“It is such a shame given it was something you were terribly excited about.”
Se’u was fined $900 and a conviction was automatically recorded because the behaving in an offensive and disorderly manner on an aircraft charge is a Commonwealth offence.
More Coverage
Originally published as Belligerent woman dragged off plane at Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport, threatens to shoot worker
The venue trend that has outgoing Olympic boss on edge
The AOC’s outgoing boss has backed the Victoria Park stadium, but warned there was a risk the “magic” of the Olympics could be lost because of another key decision.
Wally Lewis ties knot in secret ceremony
Rugby league Immortal Wally “The King” Lewis has married his long-time partner Lynda Adams in a secret ceremony at Kangaroo Point in Brisbane today with no expense spared.