Etihad passengers caught up in firebug hunt on flight from Melbourne to Abu Dhabi

FOUR Victorian passengers wrongly suspected of being firebug terrorists were left “traumatised” after being locked up in Abu Dhabi after enduring a flight from hell.

FOUR Victorians wrongly suspected of being firebug terrorists were locked up in Abu Dhabi for 30 hours after enduring a flight from hell.

The four, and eight other passengers, were detained in the UAE capital after a series of fires were lit aboard an Etihad flight from Melbourne to Abu Dhabi. Paula Stevens said her musician brother, Benjamin Skepper, and sister, Rachel Skepper, a milliner, were two of the Victorians detained by security officials. She believes they were detained because Mr Skepper was in business class while his sister was in economy. Musician Benjamin Skepper was among 12 people detained by security officials.“They were locked up for 30 hours with 10 other people on suspicion of being terrorists. Rachel has been left traumatised by the experience,” Ms Stevens said. “They were not fed. They didn’t get any sleep. All night we’ve been crying, trying to get the consulate to do something. “They have only just got their mobile phones back to let us know they are safe.” The pair were yesterday en route to Milan, but Ms Stevens was angry that the real culprit escaped unpunished. Do you know more? Email our reporter Etihad Airways said police have been unable to find the person who lit fires on the flight. The airline said it has been advised that local security authorities have concluded their investigation. Etihad Airways’ Stephen Mahoney said last night local security authorities had concluded their investigation and no one had been charged. He said the passengers were held in a first class lounge at the airport, and denied they were starved of food. “All remaining passengers held for questioning by the security authorities have been allowed to continue their journey,” he said. Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Maria Hawthorne confirmed four Victorians aged 29 to 47 were detained in Abu Dhabi. “Australian consular officials provided assistance and all four have travelled on to their next destinations,” she said. The pilot was forced to divert to Jakarta after two fires were lit in the cabin toilets. Indonesian ground crew said burned tissue paper in at least one of the toilets appeared to be the source of the smoke. The aircraft was then allowed to continue to Abu Dhabi, against many passengers’ wishes. Despite cabin staff guarding the toilets, a third fire was lit about two hours from landing, as breakfast was being prepared. One passenger, Jay Cummins, said the plane should never have been allowed to leave Jakarta while the firebug among the passengers was still at large. “The Indonesian authorities did not act in the interests of passenger safety and Etihad’s decision to fly on to Abu Dhabi needs to be questioned,” he said. “Lives were placed at risk.” Mr Mahoney said the decision to resume the flight was made after a thorough security search of the aircraft, passengers, and their carry-on luggage. Other passengers took to social media to reveal the flight was diverted due to fires. Some tweeted furiously that they had not received scheduled meals. Jared Marshall, from East Melbourne, said a woman in her 20s was escorted off the plane by police at Abu Dhabi. “Everyone was in disbelief, we couldn’t believe there was some idiot trying to kill everyone,” he said. The freelance photographer described the atmosphere on the plane as “strange”. “Everyone was looking at each other as a possible suspect,” Mr Marshall said. The arsonist first struck about four hours into the flight when most were asleep. “The smoke alarm went off but we just thought it was a case of somebody smoking in the toilets,” he said. “Later, there was a second fire in the rear toilet.” Another passenger, Luke Oliver, said all lighters were confiscated at Jakarta. “The next leg of the trip was anxious, we still felt the potential for disaster was there, but did not know the reason for the fires,” he said. “Staff constantly locked lavatories and checked them each time after they were used. “About two hours from Abu Dhabi the alarms sounded again and another fire in toilets behind us was extinguished. “I couldn’t believe anyone would try again as the attendants had been so diligent monitoring any activity.” Mr Oliver said passengers were then told the plane was in a state of “security breach” and attendants were asked to secure the lavatories. “We were told that breakfast would not be served and we could not use the toilets,” he said. [e-mail]