Katherine man sentenced after “frightening” incident on Jetstar flight

A Katherine man has been sentenced after an incident with a woman on a Jetstar flight last year. Read what happened.

A generic photo of a Jetstar aircraft landing at Darwin Airport Picture: Glenn Campbell

A Northern Territory man who indecently assaulted a fellow passenger on an interstate flight has been sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment.

Murray Lawson, 52, walked free when the sentence was backdated to October, 2024 when he was charged and placed in custody.

He was released to serve the remainder of the term on a recognisance order of $2000 and a two-year good behaviour bond.

Australian Federal Police charged Mr Lawson in relation to an incident on a Jetstar flight from Brisbane to Darwin on October 14 last year.

A man was arrested at Darwin airport after an incident on a Jetstar flight. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Mr Lawson was charged with behaving in a sexual manner towards a female passenger seated near him, before placing his hand between her thighs.

The passenger, 30, sought help from airline staff and was subsequently moved to another seat. He was monitored by airline staff for the remainder of the flight, who alerted the AFP.

AFP officers at Darwin Airport met the plane on its arrival and escorted Mr Lawson from the aircraft for questioning.

After further investigation, he was charged with and pleaded guilty to one count of an act of indecency in the third degree on an aircraft under the Commonwealth and ACT Crimes acts.

AFP Superintendent Greg Davis said the force had zero tolerance for criminal behaviour on aircraft or within Australian airports.

“All passengers and airline staff have the right to feel safe and it would be particularly frightening to be trapped in a confined space in the air with someone behaving badly,” Superintendent Davis said. “Travellers who break the law will be dealt with swiftly.”