Grant Hackett aeroplane row: Police called after Virgin Airways incident

OLYMPIC swim star Grant Hackett was “having some issues” on a flight before he was accused of groping a fellow passenger, Collingwood CEO Gary Pert says.

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OLYMPIC swim star Grant Hackett was “having some issues” on a flight before he was accused of groping a fellow passenger, Collingwood CEO Gary Pert says.

The former great, 35, has been questioned by Australian Federal Police over allegations of an assault on a Virgin flight between Adelaide and Melbourne.

A Sydney man who claimed last night he was attacked by Hackett said he felt violated, and vowed to pursue charges. He alleged: “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. I was shocked and my partner turned round and he asked him what the hell he thought he was doing,” the man said.

Pert, who was in business class with Hackett, told Triple M this morning: “Clearly Grant was having some issues on the flight. He might have had a drink before he got on the flight, but he was sitting there quietly in his seat, wasn’t aggressive, wasn’t looking at causing any trouble.”

“The majority of the flight he was passed out asleep,” he said.

“To be honest I was keeping a bit of an eye on him because I could see he was having some difficulties.”

MORE: MAN ACCUSES HACKETT OF FORCEFULLY TWEAKING HIS NIPPLE

A television image of Grant Hackett at Melbourne airport following the alleged incident. Picture: Channel 7

Pert told the Herald Sun last night that Hackett was not aggressive.

“It appeared as if he reached from behind the seat and tapped the man in front of him to ask if he could put his seat up. There was no altercation, no argument, no restraining behaviour from the flight attendants,” he said.

“After that, he (Hackett) literally sat back and fell asleep.”

“I can’t comment on how someone else responds to being touched from behind,” he told Triple M.

“I saw what happened, it was literally just a response to the seat coming back and he leant forward between the seats and just made contact with the passenger in front.

“The flight attendant came over at one point and said, ‘Grant you can’t touch anyone else in any of the other seats’, and that was literally it.

“Hearing that he’d been restrained and taken in handcuffs off the flight is quite ridiculous.”

Pert said that when the flight landed he could see that Hackett would not be able to walk of the flight so he advised the attendants that he needed some support.

“When I got into the terminal, that’s when the Federal Police rolled up and said they would take it from there,’ he said.

Hackett was quizzed at Melbourne airport after the first leg of a flight from Adelaide to his home on the Gold Coast following a row with another passenger.

It will be alleged that when another passenger reclined his seat, Hackett complained.

There are further allegations that he got out of his seat and threatened the passenger.

“He was out of control,” said one source, “It was a nasty incident.”

Hackett’s deal to work with Channel 7 at the Rio Olympics, after his failed bid to win swimming selection and revive his reputation following a series of scandals, is in doubt after Hackett was taken from the plane to a police van in a wheelchair.

An AFP spokesman confirmed on Sunday a 35-year-old man had been spoken to and released without charge, but its investigation would continue.

Channel 7 is also investigating the matter, which is likely to cost Hackett the chance of a lucrative contract on its Olympic commentary team.

A Virgin spokeswoman confirmed an incident ­occurred on the flight.

One source told the Herald Sun Hackett smelt of alcohol.

Hackett was questioned by police at Melbourne Airport. Photo Sarah Reed.

Another passenger said Hackett’s behaviour became erratic mid-flight when he stood to search through an overhead locker before going to the bathroom.

“Grant Hackett was completely fine in the lounge, completely fine entering the plane, and then he got up erratically and went to the bathroom, came back and was slumped over in his seat,” he said.

“The flight crew came rushing down to his seat and were talking to Grant, asking him if he was OK.

“They had to put his headrest around him on the flight to hold his head up because he kept slumping down in his seat.”

It is believed the row was with another passenger on the flight from Adelaide to Melbourne. Picture: Luke Marsden.

The Herald Sun 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 ­attended by 400 people.

It is understood he went out after mingling with guests, including Lleyton Hewitt, before leaving Adelaide on an early morning flight on Sunday.

A source within the Australian swim team said on Sunday night it would make its own inquiries before commenting.

The incident is another blow for the troubled star, who recently came out of retirement hoping to become the oldest swimmer to make an Australian Olympic team at the Rio trials in Adelaide.

But the dual 1500m Olympic champion finished seventh in his semi-final and 11th overall in the 200m race, missing out on a place in the final.

In an interview with the Herald Sun last year, Hackett opened up about his personal battles, including addiction, ­alcohol and allegations of domestic violence.

In attempting to explain a bizarre incident at Crown in 2014 in which he was photographed wearing only a singlet as shorts, Hackett told the Herald Sun he was driven by fear and had panicked when he realised his son had vanished. He said he experienced every parent’s worst nightmare when he could not find his son.

The four-year old child was later found on the 20th floor of the hotel.

Hackett’s agent did not respond to requests for comment on Sunday.

MORE:

MAN ACCUSES HACKETT OF FORCEFULLY TWEAKING HIS NIPPLE

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TROUBLED OLYMPIAN GRANT HACKETT ADMITS HE WASN’T THINKING STRAIGHT AFTER LOSING HIS SON AT CROWN

GRANT HACKETT OPENS UP TO HAMISH MCLACHLAN

Originally published as Grant Hackett aeroplane row: Police called after Virgin Airways incident