Preslie Ginoski: Former baggage handler faces court after doing shirtless pushups in aircraft turbine

A former baggage handler, who posted footage of himself doing shirtless push-ups in a plane’s turbine, has found humour in his airport antics despite a magistrate branding them “stupid”.

A former baggage handler has found humour in his airport antics, despite a magistrate branding him careless and stupid after he posted videos of himself doing shirtless pushups in an aircraft turbine at Sydney Airport.

Preslie Ginoski, 23, was hoping to gain social media attention when he posted the video to his TikTok account, but he instead wound up being charged with threatening aviation security and failing to display his red aviation security identification card in an airside security zone.

After being convicted and fined $2400 by magistrate Greg Grogin on Wednesday, Ginoski laughed as he walked out of the Downing Centre Local Court.

“Thank God the engine wasn’t on,” he quipped.

Facts tendered to the court outline how Ginoski worked as a ramp agent at Sydney Airport between February 2023 and January 2025.

Preslie Ginoski arrives at Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

On his final day of work on January 12, Ginoski drove a baggage tug towards a FedEx Boeing 777 aircraft.

While the plane’s engine wasn’t on, the fan blades were rotating.

About 12.30pm, he removed his high-vis top and identification lanyard before lifting himself into the engine, where he proceeded to perform push-ups and a bodybuilding flex pose.

The facts state he “did this a number of times with his shirt on and off while being filmed”.

The former baggage handler posted footage of himself inside a plane turbine at Sydney Airport. Picture: A Fly Guy's Cabin Crew Lounge

The video was posted on TikTok and went viral online. Picture: A Fly Guy's Cabin Crew Lounge

Ginoski then posted portions of the videos on TikTok under the username “whoisperez” on January 31.

The footage made its way onto a news network a couple of days later.

During the ensuing Australian Federal Police investigation, Ginoski said he took his shirt off because he “thought it wouldn’t get the company in trouble”.

Ginoski’s high-profile lawyer, Ahmed Dib, on Wednesday handed Mr Grogin a photo depicting an air hostess sitting on an aircraft turbine, saying while it didn’t mitigate his client’s actions, it showed the “mindset” behind the offence.

He was captured doing push-ups next to the turbine. Picture: A Fly Guy's Cabin Crew Lounge

Mr Dib told the court his client was honest with police, admitting he wanted social media attention when he made the “foolish decision”.

While accepting Ginoski’s contrition and remorse as genuine, Mr Grogin said he was “at a loss” to explain the motivation behind the offending.

He added that Ginoski had demonstrated not only “stupidity”, but also about “vanity” and a lack of responsibility.

“To do what you did was just careless … it was further than reckless,” he said.

Preslie Ginoski outside court on Wednesday. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

Outside court, Mr Dib described the outcome as “fair” and said his client’s reaction had been an expression of “relief”.

Earlier, AFP Sydney Airport Police commander Davina Copelin condemned the stunt.

“The AFP remains committed to the safety and security of all major Australian airports, irrespective of the crime type,” she said.

“Airside security zones are highly regulated and secure areas, and the AFP will not tolerate breaches which may compromise the safe operations of the airport, no matter how harmless they may seem.”

Sydney Airport’s head of security, Graham White, highlighted said it had a zero-tolerance policy towards safety breaches.

“The safety of passengers, airport staff and airport operations is our top priority, and we have stringent protocols in place to uphold all safety policies,” Mr White said.

“We commend the swift response by the AFP and will continue to work closely with them to ensure the highest standards of safety are maintained for passengers, staff and visitors.”

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