Passenger fined $1500 for plane fight with police

An Australian man has been slapped with a fine for trying to put a police officer in a headlock and take his taser on a plane.

A Melbourne man has been slapped with a fine after a disturbance on a flight ended with him trying to put a police officer in a headlock.

Musician Bolic Malou, 30 – known as Rockstar Bo La – pleaded guilty in Perth Magistrates Court on Thursday to charges of offensive or disorderly behaviour on an aircraft and obstruction of a commonwealth public official.

The incident occurred on March 18 on a domestic Jetstar flight in Perth.

Australian Federal Police were called to deal with a passenger acting in a disorderly manner and refusing to comply with the directions of airline staff before takeoff.

He also refused to follow requests from the AFP officers to disembark the plane.

Police had to deploy a taser to restrain the man and remove him from the plane.

Police say the man engaged the officers in a struggle, attempting to place one officer in a headlock and take his taser.

The officers were forced to use a taser to restrain the man and remove him from the plane. One officer sustained minor injuries in the incident.

He was fined $1500 and ordered to pay $264.30 in costs on the disorderly conduct charge. He was ordered to remain in custody in Perth until the fine is paid.

With regards to the obstruction charge, the man was given a 12-month commonwealth conditional release order with an associated $2000 bond.

The man will remain in custody until he pays his $1500 fine.

AFP Superintendent Peter Hatch said the AFP would not tolerate disorderly or violent behaviour on aircraft, and travellers needed to follow the directions of police and airline staff at Australia’s airports.

“Our officers and airline workers are there to ensure everyone has a safe journey, it’s important for the public to treat everyone at the airport with respect,” he said.

“The AFP will continue to have zero tolerance for anyone choosing to behave poorly on aircraft, or in and around Australia’s airports”.

“This kind of behaviour is unacceptable from any passenger, if the man had simply complied with the directions of airline staff and the police, the incident could have been avoided.”