Man in custody after allegedly attempting to board commercial flight armed with gun

A shearer, pilot and other passengers helped restrain a man who allegedly attempted to board a Jetstar flight with a gun at an airport just outside Melbourne.

A passenger has tried to take a gun on board a Jetstar flight, sparking an emergency response.

You can now listen to The Australian's articles. Give us your feedback.

You can now listen to The Australian's articles.

A shearer, a pilot and other passengers detained a teenager armed with a shotgun and carrying live rounds on a Sydney-bound Jetstar flight during a major security breach at Avalon Airport outside Melbourne.

The 17-year-old dressed in a suit covered by a high visibility shirt was detained by passengers and a pilot who grabbed the barrel of the gun and cleared the youth’s tool belt before he was dragged away by police.

The shotgun’s stock was on the floor of the Jetstar jet at the front of the plane during a tense stand-off that ended when the school-aged offender was taken away about 3pm.

The 160 passengers on JQ610 were aghast when the young offender was grappled to the ground, with one person saying: “How could this happen? How could this happen?’’

The teenager was taken from the airport in the back of a police wagon, and appeared calm when held by his throat while authorities arrived.

Echuca shearer Barry Clark told the ABC that he acted without thinking about the consequences.

“He was dressed up as a worker and he got agitated and before we knew it there was a gun — shotgun appeared — and I was worried about there being shots,’’ he told the ABC.

“So all I could do was get the gun out of the way, threw it down the stairs — try to — and then put him in a hold and throw him to the ground til the police come.

“He had other apparatus on him so I didn’t know what his full intention was.

“I’ve been taught from a boy to be responsible and look after others and we’re a sporting family so I was quietly confident I could handle him but I didn’t want to see that poor girl get shot so you’ve just got to do what you’ve got to do.

Mr Clark said the alleged offender was camouflaged.

“He looked like a technician and the lady that stopped him was the lady checking all the tickets and he couldn’t come up with the credentials so then he got agitated.”

Victoria Police Superintendent Michael Reid said the motivation for the “terrifying” incident had not been determined but terrorism would be investigated as a potential cause.

Superintendent Reid stressed it was early in the investigation and all possibilities were being considered, with involvement from other agencies including the Australian Federal Police.

The youth apparently entered the airport via a hole in a perimeter fence and his vehicle was located late on Thursday, raising questions about security arrangements at Victoria’s second major airport, located between Melbourne and Geelong.

He had a tool belt around his waist and the contents were removed by the pilot as he hung on to the shotgun barrel. A passenger, aged in his 50s or 60s, held the accused by the throat.

By this time, the gun was rendered unworkable but Superintendent Reid said there were live shotgun cartridges located by police at the scene, adding to the seriousness of the confrontation.

He said a hole had been made in the airport’s outer fence but did not confirm if the young man had cut it or it was already there.

“As he’s approached the plane, he mounted the front stairs to the front of the plane.

“At that point, passengers have identified that male was carrying a firearm,

“The male was overpowered by three of the passengers at least.”

A passenger saw the gun and detained him in a headlock.

Police initially said the man was detained before reaching the plane and taken into custody but video of his citizens’ arrest showed him inside the plane.

Avalon Airport, owned by transport titan Lindsay Fox, was shut on Thursday night.

Passenger Daniel Defino told 7News the offender said he needed to do maintenance work.

“That’s when the flight crew started to get nervous because there wasn’t any planned,” Mr Defino said.

“Then the pilot saw the shotgun and leapt on to him. There was a guy next to us named Barry, he got him in a headlock and that’s when I started recording.”

Mr Defino said he was in seat 1B in the front row.

“He (the attacker) was dead silent, there was no emotion in his eyes at all, it was scary,” he said.

“Barry and the pilot saved us, 100 per cent.

A spokesman for Jetstar confirmed the event saying in a statement they were aware of a “security incident”.

“We’re aware of a security incident at Avalon airport this afternoon and are working with police and the airport to urgently understand what has occurred,” they said.

“The safety of our passengers and crew is our number one priority and we can confirm there are no reported injuries.”

Avalon airport also confirmed they had shut down visitor access.

“We are currently investigating the situation and our immediate focus is on the safety of our passengers and staff,” a spokesman said.

“This matter is currently being managed by Victoria Police, and we are cooperating fully with their investigation.

Jetstar cancelled all flights and operations following the incident.