A Melbourne father says he was “humiliated” and “felt like an animal” after being Tasered by police on a flight out of Perth at the weekend in a commotion over his seating.
Bolic Bet Malou, 30, is now fighting charges in Western Australia, with a court order banning him from flying until his trial in July. His lawyers are fighting to have the bail conditions altered so Malou can join his family in Melbourne.
Malou was travelling back to Melbourne on a Jetstar flight with his wife and one-year-old son on Saturday when the carrier claims he refused to return to his assigned seat before take-off.
He had swapped seats to sit next to his family, but was asked to return to his original seat by a flight attendant.
Fellow passengers filmed the scene, with Malou heard telling the attendant he had been told he was OK to swap.
Federal police were called when Malou was accused of failing to comply with aircraft instructions, with five officers using four Tasers on him before he was dragged off the plane.
Bolic Bet Malou is fighting the charges in a Perth court.Credit: Nine News Perth
Australian Federal Police allege Malou became verbally and physically aggressive, and that three officers suffered minor injuries.
He has been charged with disorderly behaviour, and assaulting and obstructing police.
The plane took off without Malou and his family.
Malou was shown the passenger footage of the incident on Tuesday, and said he was “humiliated”.
“I was tasered and carried out of the place,” he said.
“I felt like an animal, it doesn’t feel great in front of your one-year-old son.”
The fellow passenger who filmed the ordeal said Malou was not being aggressive towards others on the plane.
Jaeris Vansson said it appeared as though the father had agreed to swap seats to be with his family.
“At no stage was he being verbally or physically aggressive towards anyone,” Vansson said.
Jetstar confirmed staff had called for AFP help after Malou refused crew instructions to return to his seat.
“The AFP removed two customers from the aircraft, and one was later arrested,” the airline said in a statement.
“After checking on the welfare of the remaining customers and crew on board, the flight departed Perth approximately one hour after its scheduled departure time.”
Malou wants his charges dropped, but even in a best-case scenario would never fly with Jetstar in the future, describing the experience as “traumatising”.
Nine News Perth
The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.