Grant Hackett plane row: Police called after Virgin Australia incident

OLYMPIC legend Grant Hackett has been questioned by Federal Police over an incident on a flight home from the Australian swimming championships this morning.

SWIMMING AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

OLYMPIC legend Grant Hackett has been questioned by Federal Police over an incident on a flight home from the Australian swimming championships this morning.

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 is understood that when another passenger reclined his seat, Hackett complained.

There are further claims that he got out of his seat and confronted the passenger.

“It was a nasty incident,” one source said.

The story was broken by 2GB’s Ray Hadley who called into the radio station to tell inform The Continuous Call Team about the revelation.

“Grant Hackett has been taken into custody in Melbourne,” Hadley told the show.

“He was on a flight out of Adelaide after the national titles.

“There was a blue on the flight with a passenger in front And the passenger reclined his seat.

“Grant Hackett took exception to the reclining of the seat and there was some sort of altercation.

“There’s allegations from people on-board the flight that Hackett assaulted the man in front of him.

“He was detained in Melbourne by Australian Federal Police, he is now being interviewed by Victorian Police about the alleged assault.”

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

AFP officers met the flight in Melbourne and took the swim superstar away for questioning.

Police are expected to release a statement later today.

Hackett recently failed in his bid to make the Australian swimming team for the Rio Olympics.

He has since been in negotiations with Channel 7 network to work on their commentary team.

A Virgin employee at the airport has confirmed the incident to The Daily Telegraph.

Hackett was one of two guest speakers at the pre-match Chairman’s function at Adelaide Oval before the Crows and Swans showdown, speaking in front of around 400-500 people.

The function was hosted by TV presenter Troy Gray who said Hackett was in “good spirits” throughout the event.

“We had a good old chat, he was fantastic. He spoke exceptionally well and really engaged well with the crowd.

“I had a chance to speak to him off-stage as well and he was great, very affable, very upbeat.”

Gray said he was unsure if Hackett was drinking alcohol during the function or if the Olympic swimming champion stayed to watch the match.

Originally published as Grant Hackett plane row: Police called after Virgin Australia incident