Media Release: Woman charged with disorderly behavior on board aircraft
Release Date: Monday, June 04 2012, 07:46 AM
A 58-year-old New Zealand national is scheduled to appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court today charged with offences committed on board an international flight from Melbourne to Wellington on Saturday 2 June 2012.
It will be alleged in court the woman became verbally abusive a short time into the flight and assaulted another passenger before being restrained by cabin crew.
As a result of the incident the aircraft returned to Melbourne.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers attended the International Terminal where the woman was offloaded from the aircraft and arrested.
National Manager of Aviation Shane Connelly said that this kind of behaviour was unacceptable and issued the following warning:
“The AFP will not hesitate to charge anyone behaving in a manner that may interfere with the safe operation of an aircraft," Assistant Commissioner Connelly said.
“This kind of behaviour puts fellow passengers and cabin crew members at risk and will not be tolerated."
The AFP charged the woman with:
- Common assault (Crimes Act 1900 Section 26 by virtue Crimes Aviation
Act Section 15)
- Failure to comply with instruction on board aircraft (Civil Aviation
Regulations Act 309A)
- Offensive/ disorderly behaviour in an aircraft (Civil Aviation Regulations
Act 256AA)
The maximum penalties for these offences range between two years’ imprisonment and a $5,500 fine.