Teenager accused of bringing a loaded gun on to Jetstar flight faces children’s court
A 17-year-old boy accused of bringing a loaded shotgun on board a Jetstar flight allegedly told passengers “I’ve got bombs in my bag”, a children’s court has heard.
Victoria
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A teenager accused of bringing a loaded gun on to a Jetstar flight on Thursday allegedly claimed “I’ve got bombs in my bag”.
The 17-year-old boy, who cannot be identified due to his age, is also accused of stealing two shotguns and a rifle and carrying an imitation homemade explosive before he boarded the plane at Avalon Airport on Thursday afternoon.
Fresh details about the alleged incident were revealed in court documents released to the Herald Sun after the teen faced a children’s court on Friday morning.
Charge sheets allege the boy boarded the plane with a long-arm firearm and “stating he was in possession of a bomb with the intent to prejudice the safe operation of an aircraft”.
Police allege he stole two 12-gauge shotguns and a rifle from Tourello, about 30km north of Ballarat, earlier on Thursday and was carrying two or more firearms when he went to the airport.
He was allegedly dressed in high-vis and wearing a tool belt before he was tackled and restrained by a pilot and passengers, including Moama shearer Barry Clark.
Sporting a white shirt, the boy was flanked by custody officers as he was brought into the dock of a children’s court just before midday on Friday.
He showed little emotion and stared straight ahead during the brief administrative hearing.
No details about the alleged incident were aired in court and the boy did not apply for bail.
He was remanded to reappear at court later this month.
The court heard it was the teen’s first time in custody.
Children’s court judge Jack Vandersteen directly addressed the boy at the end of the hearing.
“You’re obviously in custody, you’ve been charged with some offences by police,” he said.
“You’ll come back to court in two weeks’ time.”
Asked if he had any questions for the judge, the boy replied “no, I do not.”
The courtroom was at capacity for the hearing with some reporters forced to sit on the ground.
The teen is facing 12 charges, including unlawfully taking control of an aircraft, endangering the safe operation of an aircraft, unlawfully taking control of an aircraft, bomb hoax and possession of a firearm.
He is also charged with driving unsupervised as a learner driver.
Originally published as Teenager accused of bringing a loaded gun on to Jetstar flight faces children’s court
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