Mentone Grammar student ‘remorseful’ after security scare on-board Virgin Australia flight

A year 9 student from a Melbourne private school sparked a dramatic security response after making a “threatening remark” to airline staff.

A Year 9 Mentone Grammar student was escorted out of a Virgin plane by federal police after he made a ‘spur-of-the-moment’ comment that concerned airline crew.

A student from a private school has apologised after a foolish, “spur-of-the-moment” comment prompted a dramatic security response at Melbourne Airport last week.

The year 9 Mentone Grammar student boarded a domestic Virgin Australia flight last Wednesday with his peers, when he made a “threatening remark” allegedly along the lines of a bomb threat that concerned airline staff.

The incident prompted flight crew to contact authorities, with Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers who were stationed at the airport called to the departure gate to escort the boy from the aircraft.

“The AFP responded to a request for assistance from airline staff at Melbourne Airport on Wednesday, 30 April after a passenger allegedly made threatening remarks to crew members after boarding a domestic flight,” an AFP spokeswoman said.

“AFP officers at Melbourne Airport attended the gate and escorted the passenger from the aircraft. Investigations determined there was no threat to public safety.”

The student was on a domestic flight as part of the school’s interstate immersion program when the incident unfolded. Picture: Supplied

Mentone Grammar principal Andy Muller told the Herald Sun the student was not allowed to rejoin his peers back on the flight following the incident.

The student was participating in the school’s year 9 interstate immersion program, where pupils from the year level have the opportunity to visit an interstate destination as part of their studies.

It’s not known where the student was flying to.

Mr Muller said all students were briefed about possible scenarios and the appropriate behaviour required when attending such trips.

“Who among us has not done something in the spur of the moment when we were 14 or 15,” he said.

“The student is remorseful and understood immediately that there are consequences for (such actions).”

The AFP spokeswoman confirmed there were no arrests made in relation to the incident, despite it being a criminal offence to make threats or comments regarding carrying weapons or explosives that could come with a hefty fine or even imprisonment.

The student was not allowed to rejoin his peers back on the flight following the incident. Picture: Supplied

A Virgin Australia spokesperson said “safety is our top priority and at the core of everything we do”.

The airline’s policy is to treat any incident that may impact the safety or its guests and crew with the highest level of seriousness, which includes any passengers making comments of a threatening nature or may impact the ability to deliver a safe flight.

The airline declined to confirm whether the flight was delayed as a result of the incident or the flight’s final destination.

According to an online leaflet on the school’s interstate program, students can choose to visit either Cape York, Sunshine Coast or Cairns in Queensland, Darwin, Kununurra or the Coral Coast in Western Australia or South Australia’s Kangaroo Island as part of the program.

“The Interstate Immersion offers students the choice of a range of locations, each characterised by a set of unique and engaging experiences, with a focus on service in the community that they are visiting,” the booklet said.

“Such experiences have been designed to foster an appreciation and understanding of a new environment in a setting which provides a positive challenge for each individual.”