Passenger fight turns back Gold Coast flight

A PACKED Jetstar plane was seconds from takeoff when an argument between two passengers forced the pilot to return the Gold Coast Airport terminal.

Two men were kicked off a Jetstar flight on the tarmac on the Gold Coast.

A PACKED Jetstar plane was seconds from takeoff when an argument between two passengers forced the pilot to turn the aircraft around and return to the Gold Coast Airport terminal.

Confused passengers had no idea what was going on when three Australian Federal Police officers boarded the plane to take two men into custody.

The AFP is remaining tight-lipped about the incident on the Gold Coast to Sydney flight, which is being described as a “minor disagreement”.

A passenger who was on-board the plane which was scheduled to leave the Gold Coast for Sydney at 7.40pm, said the flight was a little behind time and everyone was relieved to be seated and preparing for takeoff.

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“We were on the plane, going down the runway, about to take off, when the pilot slowed down, turned around and headed back to the terminal,” he said.

“No one knew what was going on and we wondered if there was something wrong with the plane.

Passengers disembark from a Jetstar flight on the Gold Coast. Photo: Regi Varghese

“When we got to the terminal the crew disarmed the doors and three police officers came on board.

“They took two men away and the people seated near them started to cheer.

“There were three other people with the two men and they insisted they had to get off too, it took some time, but eventually they were all off and we were on our way.

“A few people were worried and thought it must have been something serious for the plane to turn around.

“Jetstar crew and the pilot handled the situation very professionally, but there was a concern we might not make it to Sydney.

“We got there with five minutes to spare until the 11pm curfew for flights.”

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An AFP spokeswoman said Gold Coast Airport officers responded to a request for assistance from an airline crew on Wednesday night.

“This was following reports of a minor disagreement between passengers on-board an aircraft,” she said.

“At the request of the airline, the AFP escorted a 37-year-old man and a 26-year-old man from the flight.

“Inquiries into this incident are ongoing and while this occurs, no further comment will be provided.

“No charges have been laid, but may follow the conclusion of the investigation.”

A Jetstar spokeswoman said two passengers were arguing and disrupting other customers before takeoff.

“Our crew made the decision with our captain that they would not travel on that flight,” she said.

“The Australian Federal Police escorted the two passengers off the aircraft. Other passengers travelling with them voluntarily elected to not travel on that flight.”