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| Teenager overpowered by plane passengers after allegedly boarding Jetstar flight with ‘large gun’ at Avalon airport | Teenager overpowered by plane passengers after allegedly boarding Jetstar flight with ‘large gun’ at Avalon airport |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Victoria police called to airport outside Melbourne after alleged incident on commercial flight | Victoria police called to airport outside Melbourne after alleged incident on commercial flight |
| Police are investigating after a 17-year-old teenager allegedly boarded a Jetstar flight with a shotgun and ammunition, frightening passengers who described a dramatic citizen’s arrest. | Police are investigating after a 17-year-old teenager allegedly boarded a Jetstar flight with a shotgun and ammunition, frightening passengers who described a dramatic citizen’s arrest. |
| Victoria police were called to Avalon airport outside Melbourne at 2.50pm on Thursday. | Victoria police were called to Avalon airport outside Melbourne at 2.50pm on Thursday. |
| An image from inside the plane allegedly showed the teen, who is now in custody, pinned to the floor of the cabin by a fellow passenger. No injuries were reported. | |
| Dressed in hi-vis clothing the teen was thought to be a maintenance worker when he allegedly entered Avalon airport through a hole in the facility’s fence on Thursday afternoon. | Dressed in hi-vis clothing the teen was thought to be a maintenance worker when he allegedly entered Avalon airport through a hole in the facility’s fence on Thursday afternoon. |
| It is alleged he then walked up the boarding staircase and into the plane, where 160 passengers were onboard. | It is alleged he then walked up the boarding staircase and into the plane, where 160 passengers were onboard. |
| Victoria’s police superintendent, Michael Reid, said the 17-year-old was then detained by three passengers in a citizens’ arrest. | Victoria’s police superintendent, Michael Reid, said the 17-year-old was then detained by three passengers in a citizens’ arrest. |
| “As he’s approached the plane, he’s mounted or climbed the front stairs, to the front of the plane. At that point, passengers have identified the male was carrying a firearm,” Reid said. | “As he’s approached the plane, he’s mounted or climbed the front stairs, to the front of the plane. At that point, passengers have identified the male was carrying a firearm,” Reid said. |
| “The male was overpowered by three of the passengers at least. And shortly afterwards, police have arrived and taken that male into custody. | “The male was overpowered by three of the passengers at least. And shortly afterwards, police have arrived and taken that male into custody. |
| “No doubt this would have been a very terrifying incident for the passengers of that plane, and Victorian police really commend the bravery of those passengers who were able to overpower that male,” he said. | “No doubt this would have been a very terrifying incident for the passengers of that plane, and Victorian police really commend the bravery of those passengers who were able to overpower that male,” he said. |
| Reid said ammunition was found along with the shotgun, but did not confirm reports that knives and petrol had also been found. Authorities did not yet know if the gun was registered. | Reid said ammunition was found along with the shotgun, but did not confirm reports that knives and petrol had also been found. Authorities did not yet know if the gun was registered. |
| “[It’s] very concerning that a person can firstly breach security, approach an aircraft and make his way potentially close to being inside a aircraft with a firearm.” | “[It’s] very concerning that a person can firstly breach security, approach an aircraft and make his way potentially close to being inside a aircraft with a firearm.” |
| “I can’t communicate more clearly how concerning that is,” Reid said. | “I can’t communicate more clearly how concerning that is,” Reid said. |
| The teenager’s vehicle has since been located, and is part of investigations. Police are talking to counter-terrorism teams. The 17-year-old was not known to police. | The teenager’s vehicle has since been located, and is part of investigations. Police are talking to counter-terrorism teams. The 17-year-old was not known to police. |
| He is yet to be charged. | He is yet to be charged. |
| Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email | Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email |
| Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email | Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email |
| The incident at the city’s secondary airport, which only Jetstar operates commercial flights to, was understood to have occurred in relation to a passenger flight between Sydney and Avalon. | The incident at the city’s secondary airport, which only Jetstar operates commercial flights to, was understood to have occurred in relation to a passenger flight between Sydney and Avalon. |
| Barry in seat 1C was ‘confident I could handle him’ | Barry in seat 1C was ‘confident I could handle him’ |
| Barry Clark was sitting in seat 1C onboard JQ 610 and tackled the teenager to the ground once he realised he allegedly had a weapon. | Barry Clark was sitting in seat 1C onboard JQ 610 and tackled the teenager to the ground once he realised he allegedly had a weapon. |
| “The lovely air hostess was just questioning this bloke trying to come on dressed up as a worker,” Clark told ABC Radio. | “The lovely air hostess was just questioning this bloke trying to come on dressed up as a worker,” Clark told ABC Radio. |
| “He got agitated, and before we know it, there was a gun, a shotgun appeared. | “He got agitated, and before we know it, there was a gun, a shotgun appeared. |
| “All I could do was push [the air hostess] out of the way, get the gun out of the way, break that, throw it down the stairs, and then put him in a hold and throw him to the ground until the police come.” | “All I could do was push [the air hostess] out of the way, get the gun out of the way, break that, throw it down the stairs, and then put him in a hold and throw him to the ground until the police come.” |
| Clark said “he was perfectly dressed for the job, he looked like a technician”. | Clark said “he was perfectly dressed for the job, he looked like a technician”. |
| “You don’t think, you act. 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 … so you just gotta do what you gotta do.” | “You don’t think, you act. 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 … so you just gotta do what you gotta do.” |
| Another passenger told Guardian Australia the teen was wearing hi-vis. Another witness described to the ABC the teen in a tool belt and cargo pants. | Another passenger told Guardian Australia the teen was wearing hi-vis. Another witness described to the ABC the teen in a tool belt and cargo pants. |
| Kim McLeod was onboard Jetstar flight 610 from Avalon to Sydney for a work trip, and said she and fellow passengers were in their seats when the incident began. | Kim McLeod was onboard Jetstar flight 610 from Avalon to Sydney for a work trip, and said she and fellow passengers were in their seats when the incident began. |
| “We had just boarded the flight, we were sitting down, and all of a sudden there was a commotion down at the front of the cabin, you could tell something was happening because people started filming it. | “We had just boarded the flight, we were sitting down, and all of a sudden there was a commotion down at the front of the cabin, you could tell something was happening because people started filming it. |
| “The pilot eventually got on the announcer and said that somebody had boarded the plane with a large gun.” | “The pilot eventually got on the announcer and said that somebody had boarded the plane with a large gun.” |
| The male had allegedly posed as a maintenance worker, McLeod told Guardian Australia. | The male had allegedly posed as a maintenance worker, McLeod told Guardian Australia. |
| “That’s how they got on to the plane. It was obviously a breach of security.” | “That’s how they got on to the plane. It was obviously a breach of security.” |
| Suspicion was raised after the crew had been told maintenance checks had been completed, but that the male dressed as a maintenance worker was onboard. | Suspicion was raised after the crew had been told maintenance checks had been completed, but that the male dressed as a maintenance worker was onboard. |
| “A pilot and passenger tackled him to the ground,” McLeod said. | “A pilot and passenger tackled him to the ground,” McLeod said. |
| After the 17-year-old was detained, passengers then disembarked the plane and the airport was closed, McLeod said. She said passengers were told their luggage would be delivered to them later. The airport was in lockdown. | After the 17-year-old was detained, passengers then disembarked the plane and the airport was closed, McLeod said. She said passengers were told their luggage would be delivered to them later. The airport was in lockdown. |
| McLeod, who lives in Torquay in Victoria, had been on her way to Sydney for work, but as no further flights were leaving the airport on Thursday, she would now not travel. | McLeod, who lives in Torquay in Victoria, had been on her way to Sydney for work, but as no further flights were leaving the airport on Thursday, she would now not travel. |
| Ari Suss, the CEO of Avalon airport, confirmed in a statement the airport was now closed to visitors until further notice as the incident was being investigated. | Ari Suss, the CEO of Avalon airport, confirmed in a statement the airport was now closed to visitors until further notice as the incident was being investigated. |
| “Our immediate focus is on the safety of our passengers and staff,” Suss said. | “Our immediate focus is on the safety of our passengers and staff,” Suss said. |
| In a statement, a Jetstar spokesperson said: “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. The safety of our passengers and crew is our number one priority and we can confirm there are no reported injuries.” | In a statement, a Jetstar spokesperson said: “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. The safety of our passengers and crew is our number one priority and we can confirm there are no reported injuries.” |