Sydney to Phuket Jetstar flight diverted to Bali after wild fight erupts onboard

SIX Aussie men thrown off a Jetstar flight after a drunken brawl will be sent home, as a witness claims a seat sparked the fight.

SIX men thrown off a Jetstar flight last night after a wild drunken brawl will be sent home to Australia tomorrow, escaping any criminal charges.

The men, on a flight from Sydney to Phuket, were offloaded in Bali after the flight was diverted when the brawl got out of control on Wednesday night.

It was originally reported that five men were involved in the brawl, but it has now been confirmed that a sixth Australian was also detained.

News Corp Australia can confirm that Bradley Beecham, Brett Eldridge, Mark Rossiter, Lynmin Waharai and Ricky William were all detained in police custody after the pilot was forced to divert the flight. Michael Matthews, who is believed to have been the victim of the attack, also remains in Bali.

Five of the men taken off a Jetstar flight pictured today in detention holding area in Denpasar airport in Bali. Picture: Supplied

The General Manager at Bali’s Gusti Ngurah Rai airport, Trikora Harjo, said the airport had received a report from Jetstar that there were “unruly passengers fighting in the cabin” and the pilot had decided to divert the plane to Bali.

Passport image of Lynmin Waharai

Passport image of Mark Rossiter

Mr Harjo said the men, who were being questioned by airport authorities, were found to be drunk and that three of the five involved in the melee had smelled of alcohol.

It is understood that the brawl involved five men – four against one.

Mr Harjo said the men would not be charged with any offence but would be sent home to Australia on a Jetstar flight on Friday.

A Facebook post by Michael Matthews before takeoff from Sydney. Picture: Facebook

“As the flight landed we brought them to the arrival hall of the international airport with Immiration, police and security of Ngurah Rai (airport). They are now being interrogated,” Mr Harjo said.

“I have communicated with the airline. They will bring them back to Australia. The airline will send their security to Bali to escort them back to Australia today. And they will be taken back to Australia tomorrow on Friday with Jetstar flight,” he said.

Passport image of Michael Matthews

Passport image of Brett Eldridge

Terrifying eyewitness accounts of the wild brawl have emerged as passengers took to Facebook to tell of the frightening incident.

One of the men allegedly involved in the brawl posted an image on Facebook that appeared to show him and one of his travelling companions sitting on the plane before takeoff from Sydney.

In response to comments on his Facebook page, the alleged passenger posted: “One of our group had an altercation so they took all six off the flight”.

A conversation between Brett Eldridge and two friends on Facebook. Picture: Facebook

“We are being taken back to Australia on the news they said a brawl ect (sic) passengers were scared no such thing,” the man posted on Facebook.

Passengers on the flight described a very different scene, describing the bloody scene on the plane.

This clearly shaken passenger took to Facebook after the incident.

In a statement, Jetstar said it took the safety of passengers seriously.

“We take safety and security seriously and we don’t tolerate disruptive behaviour by passengers on our flights,” the airline said.

“The other customers onboard supported the decision to offload the group in Bali and thanked the crew.”

A social media user posted on the Sunrise Facebook page saying that three of her friends were on the flight.

“I’ve been talking to one of them this morning. She said it was really scary. She was in tears and kids etc were screaming,” she wrote.

“Blood was everywhere. It was a massive punch-up.”