‘Went bananas’: Passenger forces Perth-Melbourne Virgin flight to U-turn

A cross-country flight was forced to do a U-turn as a male passenger “went bananas” banging on the cockpit.

A Perth to Melbourne flight had to do U-turn less than an hour into the journey.

A caller has told radio station 3AW a man was agitated and banging on the cockpit door during the flight on Monday.

Flight data shows the plane barely made it over the Great Australian Bight before turning around, landing 30 minutes after takeoff.

“A male passenger suddenly went bananas running up and down the aisle and bashing on the cockpit door,” the radio caller said.

The plane left Perth at 7.21pm. Picture: Flight Radar24

“Two air marshals had to restrain and handcuff the individual until the [flight] landed.”

The apparent witness believed some travellers got on a later flight, though some were unable to get another seat.

The flight was operated by Virgin.

A person purportedly on the plane reckons a man was running up-and-down the plane and banging on the cockpit.

A Virgin Australia spokesperson said the plane returned to Perth because of a “disruptive passenger on board“.

“On arrival in Perth, the aircraft was met by the Australian Federal Police and the disruptive guest was offloaded.”

“The safety of our guests and crew is our top priority and we sincerely apologise to guests impacted.”

More to come.