Charges dropped against Puri Siddawala following bizarre mid-flight incident from Bali to Melbourne

A Melbourne man who cannot remember his bizarre mid-flight attack on Qantas staff and other passengers has apologised for his conduct after his charges were officially dropped.

A Melbourne man who threatened to blow up a plane in a violent and bizarre mid-air attack has apologised for the ordeal he has “no memory” of.

Charges against Puri Siddawala were on Friday dropped by prosecutors more than 12 months after he was pinned to the ground and arrested by federal police on flight QF46 from Bali to Melbourne on December 31 in 2023.

Mr Siddawala, who was 28 at the time, was seen standing on his seat before lunging at a flight attendant, who held her arms up in self defence.

Video footage captured Mr Siddawala saying “I have a gun, I will kill you c---s” and “I will blow up the plane”.

He was also heard telling passengers “I will cut you up. I will stab you” and “where is my knife?” during the mid-air ordeal where he zeroed in on a flight attendant.

“No, no listen baby. Give me a kiss,” Mr Siddawala was heard saying to the attendant.

He then turned his attention to other passengers on the Qantas flight, screaming: “If you don’t get away from me, I will f--king you” and “I just want to stay alive”.

“I’ll call my mum and dad. Where’s my mum and dad? Get the f--k away from me.”

It took five people to bring Mr Siddawala to the ground where he was pinned to the floor for the remainder of the four-hour journey back to Melbourne.

His hands were tied and was given a small pillow to rest his head on during the ordeal.

Australian Federal Police charged the man last year but those were withdrawn at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday.

Mr Siddawala’s lawyer, George Balot, said his client was “extremely remorseful” although he “has no memory” of the incident on-board the flight from the holiday hotspot.

“He’s been vindicated of the crime. He has no memory of the event, however he has watched the footage and he is extremely remorseful for what has happened and he apologises to the Qantas crew,” he said outside court. 

Several passengers helped restrain the man. Picture: Nine

“We pleaded the defence of automatism, and that is there was an absence of any deliberate will, or control of the will, and that was accepted.

“He is very grateful to the good Samaritan doctor who assisted him and sedated him.

“He’s very sorry for what’s happened.”

Mr Siddawala was later taken to hospital for treatment before he was charged by federal police.

Qantas said they had “zero tolerance” for “disruptive or threatening behaviour” but it remains unclear whether Mr Siddawala is banned from the airline.