A 21-year-old Australian man has been charged with assaulting a flight attendant and a passenger during an international flight. The incident occurred on an aircraft traveling from Phuket, Thailand, to Melbourne, Australia.
According to reports, the man allegedly grabbed the shoulders of a female cabin crew member and shook her after she denied his request for a hug. He then reportedly moved to the rear of the plane and punched a male passenger multiple times in the face as the passenger exited a restroom.
The cabin crew managed to restrain the man until Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers met the plane upon arrival.
The man faces charges including one count of assaulting crew of an aircraft and one count of common assault. The former charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail, while the latter carries a maximum of two years.
AFP Superintendent Stephen Cook stated that passengers and airline crew are entitled to a safe travel experience. He emphasized the AFP's zero-tolerance policy for assaults or mistreatment of passengers or cabin crew, noting that offenders can expect to be prosecuted. The AFP maintains a significant presence at major Australian airports to address such incidents.
The 21-year-old is scheduled to appear in Broadmeadows Magistrates Court on Monday.