Grant Hackett allegedly grabbed fellow plane passenger’s breast, yelled abuse

Grant Hackett, 35, is in hiding as Channel 7 broadcast an image they claimed was the former Olympian slumped in a wheelchair at Melbourne airport. A tearful fellow business class passenger accused him of “tweaking my nipple quite forcefully”.

‘I felt unsafe and violated’

• HACKETT QUESTIONED AFTER ‘NASTY’ PLANE ROW

AN alleged air assault has sunk former swim champ Grant Hackett amid claims the Olympian yelled abuse on board a flight, grabbed a passenger by the nipple “quite forcefully” and had to be taken by wheelchair to awaiting Australian Federal Police officers.

The 35-year-old was last night in hiding as Channel 7 broadcast an image they claimed was Hackett slumped in a wheelchair near police officers at Melbourne airport.

Last night, the tearful Virgin airlines passenger, who did not want to be named, exclusively told The Daily Telegraph how he and his partner were sitting in the first two seats in business class when the alleged events unfolded after Hackett sat immediately behind them.

A photograph shown on TV purportedly showing Grant Hackett passed out in a wheelchair at Melbourne airport / Picture: Channel 7

“As I reclined my chair he grabbed it and yanked it back. Then he put his hand through and groped my chest and tweaked my nipple quite forcefully,” the passenger said.

“I was shocked and my partner turned round and he asked him what the hell he thought he was doing.

“Mr Hackett then stroked my arm and said; ‘it’s OK, it’s all right’.’’

But it wasn’t.

“I felt unsafe and violated,” said the young executive, who had been to Adelaide for a reunion with his ­partner’s family.

“Then when we began the descent he tried to do it again but I would not release the buttons so he could not yank the chair back.”

Grant Hackett being interviewed by Troy Gray on Saturday night.

The man, who lives in Sydney, complained to the Virgin Australia crew and pilot and spent several hours with the Australian Federal Police once the flight landed at Melbourne airport.

An AFP spokesman confirmed it was requested to attend an arrival gate at Melbourne airport.

“A 35-year-old man was spoken to. However, at this time no charges have been laid. Inquiries in relation to this matter are continuing,” he said.

Virgin Australia confirmed there had been an incident on the flight.

Hackett was questioned by Federal Police at Melbourne airport yesterday after the episode on his first leg home to the Gold Coast from the Australian swimming championships in ­Adelaide.

Collingwood chief executive Gary Pert helped assist Hackett off the plane and walked him to a seat inside the airport terminal.

Pert said he saw Hackett on the plane tap the passenger in front of him and ask if he could put his seat up.

A flight attendant then asked Hackett to keep his hands to himself.

“Grant was not aggressive but did ask a passenger in front of him to not recline his chair back,” Pert told The Daily Telegraph.

The latest allegations follow the swimmer’s stint in a US rehab clinic for addiction to sleeping pills two years ago, after Hackett was photographed wandering around the foyer of Melbourne’s Crown Casino wearing a singlet as a pair of shorts looking for his young son.

They also come at an ­unfortunate time for the swimming star, with Hackett due to sign an Olympic commentary contract in just 48 hours.

Grant Hackett and former wife Candice Alley.

The victim said he spoke out to scotch reports that there had been a nasty altercation on the plane. He said the alleged assault happened while he and his partner were quietly watching a movie on his laptop.

He said his partner noticed Hackett in the departure lounge and had commented that he appeared to be acting strangely prior to boarding.

“I feel unsafe now getting on a flight because I don’t know if someone is going to come from behind and grope me again.”

Dual Olympic champion Grant Hackett / Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

The Daily Telegraph understands Hackett had spent part of the previous evening in a corporate box at the Crows v Swans game at Adelaide Oval for a speaking engagement.

It is understood he went out after mingling with guests, including Lleyton Hewitt.

After he missed out on a spot in the Olympic squad last week he spent the remainder of the time in Adelaide with the Channel 7 commentary team. Hackett said he hoped for a gig with the TV station during the Olympics in Rio.

Hackett’s manager Chris White said he was “in the dark” about what was happening, despite telling The Daily Telegraph he had made ­“numerous” attempts to reach him.