Teen charged after passenger tackled him on Jetstar plane

An Echuca-Moama man has spoken of how he helped overpower a 17-year-old boy armed with a gun who boarded a plane at Avalon Airport on Thursday afternoon.

The boy allegedly pushed a hole in the airport fence while dressed as a maintenance worker in high-vis clothing and wearing a tool belt.

Jetstar passenger Barry Clark (centre) and a pilot wrestle the armed teen to the floor of the plane.Credit: Nine News

Barry Clark, a former shearer and boxer, said he noticed the gun while the boy was speaking with a flight attendant.

“The lovely air hostess was just questioning this bloke trying to come on dressed up as a worker,” Clark told ABC Radio.

Clark was among three people who wrestled the teenager to the floor of Sydney-bound flight JQ610, which had more than 150 passengers on board, just before 3pm.

Police have charged the 17-year-old multiple offences, including unlawfully taking control of an aircraft, bomb hoax and possessing a firearm.

He was remanded in custody to appear at a children’s court.

Clark told Channel Ten’s The Project that he noticed the barrel of a shotgun while the boy was talking to the flight attendant.

“I thought to myself, that ain’t a tool that should be on a plane.”

When he saw the entire gun, Clark decided to act. He said he stood up quietly and approached the teenager from behind.

Barry Clark, pictured giving an interview in 2020.Credit: Facebook

“I knew that if I went to the side and pushed the gun away from him at least if it went off it would go off on the side of the plane and there was no one there.”

Clark said he then pushed the flight attendant to safety.

“Then I just proceeded to do what I had to do and just put him in a bit of a lock and got his hand and twisted it and put it up in his back …”

Police Superintendent Michael Reid said it was too early to establish if the incident would be treated as terrorism.

Passengers disembark from the plane after the security incident.Credit: Nine News

He said police believed the teenager had breached security by breaking in through a hole in a fence at the airport, 50 kilometres south-west of Melbourne.

“No doubt this would have been a very terrifying incident for the passengers of that plane,” he said. “And Victoria Police really commend the bravery of those passengers who were able to overpower that male.”

He told reporters at the scene on Thursday night that the teenager appeared to have been acting alone and was not known to police.

Reid said investigators were working with the police counterterrorism command and Australian Federal Police.

Avalon Airport remained closed on Thursday night,Credit: Alexander Darling

The airport, which went into lockdown after the incident, reopened late Thursday night with further security measures.

In a statement, airport chief executive Ari Suss did not detail the new measures, but said they would be “within the terminal and surrounding areas”.

“We want to reassure the public that the safety of our passengers, staff, and community remains our highest priority,” Suss said.

“Passengers with upcoming flights should check directly with Jetstar for the latest travel updates.

“We appreciate the patience and cooperation of our passengers and staff. Our teams are on
hand to assist travellers as we resume normal operations.

“This matter is currently being managed by Victoria Police, and we are co-operating fully with their investigation.”

Clark said he had worked as a shearer around Australia for 28 years, and had been an amateur boxer who had also fought professionally.

Asked if he was scared, he told The Project: “You don’t have time to be scared. If you’re scared you’re going to make a mistake … You’ve got to act.”

Clark said everyone on the plane remained calm. “The passengers on the plane can congratulate themselves too.”

He told the ABC: “I’ve been taught from a boy to be responsible, to look after others, and we’re a sporting family, so I was quietly confident I could handle him. I didn’t want to see that poor girl get shot.

“You just gotta do what you gotta do.”

John Silvester lifts the lid on Australia’s criminal underworld. Subscribers can sign up to receive his Naked City newsletter every Thursday.