Latest news with #AvalonAirport
New York Times
07-03-2025
- New York Times
Armed Teen Is Stopped From Boarding a Flight in Australia, Police Says
A teenager who boarded a commercial flight in Australia armed with a shotgun and ammunition was overpowered by passengers and crew, the police said on Friday. The teenager, a 17-year-old boy whose identity was not released, had entered the aircraft with the firearm, the department said. Officers from the Victoria Police were called to Avalon Airport in southeastern Australia at about 2:20 p.m. local time on Thursday, it said. He was arrested and faced multiple charges. A sheep shearer, Barry Clark, was among those onboard the flight who stepped in to detain the teenager. Mr. Clark said that he was headed to Sydney to watch a football match when he noticed a member of the crew asking the teenager, who was dressed in a high-visibility vest and was wearing a tool belt, for his credentials before entering the plane. 'He got agitated and before we know it there was a gun, a shotgun appeared,' Mr. Clark told ABC Radio Melbourne. 'I then proceeded to do what I had to do and just put him in a bit of a lock, got his hand and twisted it and put it up in his back, threw him to the floor and then put my knee in his back and held him in a position where he couldn't get out,' Mr. Clark told Network 10, a television network, according to The Associated Press. Police said that they found two bags and a vehicle belonging to the teenager and called in the bomb response unit to assist with the bags as a precaution. No one was injured, they said. Jetstar Flight 610 was scheduled to fly to Sydney with about 150 passengers. The superintendent of the Victoria Police, Michael Reid, told reporters that the boy had climbed through a hole in the airport's security fence and made his way to the stairs of the aircraft. The teenager, from the regional city of Ballarat in Victoria, about 70 miles west of Melbourne, is in custody on eight charges, including unlawfully taking control of an aircraft; endangering the safety of an aircraft; possessing dangerous goods on an aircraft; a bomb hoax; and firearms possession. On Friday, he appeared in the Children's Court of Victoria and told the magistrate that he was not applying for bail, according to the Australian broadcaster ABC News. The news report cited charging documents stating that he planted a fake homemade explosive and threatened passengers and crew. 'I've got bombs in my bag,' he was quoted as saying. Mr. Clark, the shearer, said he did not hesitate to get involved, saying that he had been taught as a boy to look after other people. 'You don't think, you act,' he said. 'I was quietly confident I could handle him.' He did not answer the radio interviewer's question about what was easier, wrangling an attacker or a sheep. Instead, Mr. Clark spoke about the employee who told him seat 1-C was 'the best seat in the house' when he made his booking. Next time, Mr. Clark said, 'I am going to ask him if I can go down to cargo.'
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Yahoo
A 17-year-old with a gun boarded a flight and was overpowered by passengers and crew, police say
Police are investigating after a 17-year-old boarded a plane with a shotgun in Australia. Passengers told local radio he was dressed like an airport worker. The teenager was detained by crew and passengers on the flight. A 17-year-old with a loaded shotgun boarded a flight after breaching airport security, police in Australia said. The incident occurred on Thursday at Avalon Airport, near Melbourne, which has flights operated by the Qantas-owned budget carrier Jetstar. Victoria Police said the teenager was detained by crew and passengers on the flight. Officers also located two bags and a vehicle belonging to the suspect. Images obtained by Australia's ABC News showed him wearing a high-vis jacket similar to airport ground crew, and being held down in the cabin. The broadcaster reported that Superintendent Michael Reid said the teenager had acted alone and entered the airport through a hole in a security fence. Reid said the teen then made his way to the plane but was overpowered by several passengers after boarding it. Barry Clark, a passenger on the flight, told ABC Radio Melbourne he noticed the 17-year-old as he was being questioned by a flight attendant. "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 so all I could do was get the gun out of the way, threw it down the stairs … and then put him in a hold and throw him to the ground til the police come," Clark said. Asked what was going through his mind when he tackled the young man, Clark said: "You don't think, you act." Reid also told reporters: "No doubt this would have been a very terrifying incident for the passengers of that plane and Victoria Police really commend the bravery of the passengers who were able to overpower that male." A Jetstar representative told Business Insider the airline was working with police and airport authorities to investigate the incident. "The safety of our passengers and crew is our number one priority and we can confirm there were no reported injuries," they said. "We know this would have been a very distressing situation and we are sincerely grateful to the customers who assisted our crew to safely manage the situation." Read the original article on Business Insider
Euronews
07-03-2025
- Euronews
Plane passengers in Australia disarm teenager armed with shotgun
The suspect has been charged with numerous offences including taking illegal control of an aircraft. ADVERTISEMENT Passengers and crew have been praised for their bravery after they restrained and disarmed a 17-year-old attempting to board a plane in Australia with a loaded shotgun on Thursday. The incident took place at Avalon Airport, near Melbourne, in the state of Victoria. Victoria Police Superintendent Michael Reid said the boy entered the airport through a hole in the security fence, before approaching a Jetstar Airways plane that was preparing for take-off. 'This would have been a very terrifying incident for the passengers of that plane and Victoria Police really commend the bravery of those passengers who were able to overpower that male,' Reid said. Reid singled out two passengers and a pilot for their roles in disarming the teenager before police arrived. Barry Clark, a former professional boxer, was one of the passengers involved in restraining the suspect. Clark said he noticed the boy had grown agitated at the plane's entrance, where he was being questioned by a flight attendant. In an interview with Network 10 television, Clark said he then spotted the gun. After approaching the boy from behind, Clark said he 'put him in a bit of a lock', 'threw him to the floor' and then held him in position by putting his knee on the boy's back. The teenage suspect has been charged with numerous offences, including unlawfully taking control of a plane and possessing a weapon. Responding to the incident, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese insisted that the country's airports have robust security. 'This incident is concerning for members of the public. I commend the work of police and aviation officials in responding to it quickly,' he said. Ari Suss, Avalon Airport's chief executive, said his organisation had implemented further security measures as a result of Thursday's event. Meanwhile, Jetstar, a budget subsidiary of Qantas Airways, said it was working with the police and the airport to understand what had happened. The flight, which was supposed to carry about 150 people to Sydney, was cancelled.
NBC News
07-03-2025
- NBC News
Teenager charged after allegedly boarding plane with a shotgun in Australia
A 17-year-old has been charged in Australia after he allegedly boarded a plane with a shotgun, police said Friday, with authorities praising several people including a former boxer who quickly overpowered him. The suspect, who has not been publicly identified, was subdued on Thursday afternoon by crew and passengers on a Sydney-bound Jetstar plane before police arrived at the Avalon Airport about 35 miles southwest of Melbourne, Victoria state police said in a statement. The boy has been charged with multiple offenses including unlawfully taking control of an aircraft, orchestrating a bomb hoax and possessing a firearm, police said, adding that they had located two bags and a vehicle thought to belong to him. He was remanded in custody and will appear at a children's court at a later date. A video released by Australian broadcaster 7News shows the gunman being held in a chokehold at the front of the plane and then pushed to the ground by several people. Police said there were no injuries on the flight, which was carrying about 150 people and was subsequently canceled. Barry Clark, one of the passengers who subdued the boy, said he had posed as a maintenance worker but became 'agitated' when questioned by a flight attendant at the entrance to the plane. 'I looked up and then within a second I saw the barrel of a shotgun,' Clark told Network 10 in an interview. 'When I saw the complete gun, I said: 'We're in trouble here.'' Clark then saw the gun move toward the flight attendant's chest and decided to do something, he said: 'This is all happening in a matter of seconds.' Clark, a former professional boxer and sheep shearer, said he sneaked up behind the boy, then pushed the gun and the flight attendant apart to keep her from being hit if the gun went off. 'I then proceeded to do what I had to do and just put him in a bit of a lock, got his hand and twisted it and put it up in his back, threw him to the floor and then put my knee in his back and held him in a position where he couldn't get out,' Clark said. Victoria Police Superintendent Michael Reid said the suspect was acting alone and headed to the plane after breaching the airport security fence. 'No doubt, this would have been a very terrifying incident for the passengers of that plane,' Reid told reporters on Thursday, adding that the police 'truly commend the bravery' of at least three people who were able to overpower the suspect. Avalon Airport's chief executive, Ari Suss, said Friday that the airport had reopened and that it was 'fully' supporting the police investigation. 'As part of our ongoing commitment to security, we have implemented further measures across the airport, including within the terminal and surrounding areas,' Suss said in a statement. 'We continue to work closely with authorities to maintain a safe and secure environment for all travelers.' Jetstar, a subsidiary of the Australian flag carrier Qantas Airways, also said it was cooperating with the investigation. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the country's airports had strong security. 'This incident is concerning for members of the public. I commend the work of police and aviation officials in responding to it quickly,' Albanese told reporters.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Yahoo
Teen allegedly boarded flight armed
A teenage boy has been charged after he allegedly tried to board a commercial flight while armed with a teenager, 17, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in a Children's Court shortly before midday on Friday on eight charges including unlawfully taking control of an aircraft. Wearing a white button up and black dress pants during the three-minute hearing, the boy spoke only to confirm he understood he would be remanded into custody and that he did not have any questions. 'No I do not,' he said, before being led from the courtroom. He will return to court at a later date. The incident allegedly unfolded at Avalon Airport — Melbourne's secondary airport which is used mainly for domestic Jetstar flights - at about 2.20pm on Thursday. Police were called to the airport after reports a 17-year-old had allegedly entered the commercial flight with a firearm. The teenager was allegedly tackled and detained by the pilot and passengers, including a shearer from Echuca, who claimed the boy was dressed as a worker. After the 17-year-old was detained, police allegedly found two bags and a vehicle belonging to the teenager. 'The Bomb Response Unit were called to assist with the bags as a safety precaution,' a police statement read. The 17-year-old Ballarat boy was arrested and has since been charged with several offences. They include unlawfully taking control of an aircraft, endangering safe operation of an aircraft, endangering safety of an aircraft, dangerous goods on an aircraft, threat to the safety of an aircraft, bomb hoax, possess firearm and traffic-related Avalon Airport was closed following the incident but has since reopened, with a statement released late on Thursday evening revealing updates to the facility's safety precautions. 'As part of our ongoing commitment to security, we have implemented further measures across the airport, including within the terminal and surrounding areas,' the statement read. 'We continue to work closely with authorities to ensure a safe and secure environment for all travellers. 'We appreciate the patience and cooperation of our passengers and staff.' Barry Clark, a shearer from Echuca, who was sitting at the front of the JQ610 flight to Sydney, was one of the passengers who helped detain the boy. Clark told The Project the boy was the last person to approach the flight attendant after everyone had boarded the plane. He claimed he heard the teenager become agitated when he was asked to produce paperwork so he could carry out the work he said he needed to do. 'He got more agitated and more agitated, I looked up and within a second I saw a barrel of a shotgun and I thought to myself, 'That ain't a tool that should be on a plane,'' he said. Barry Cable, a passenger on the flight that a gunman allegedly attempted to board with a gun, spoke out about his experience. Mr Clark told ABC Radio Melbourne he first noticed the young man dressed up as a worker when he realised the airline staff were questioning him. Mr Clark claimed the alleged gunman had 'other apparatus on him so I didn't know what his full intention was.' Asked what was going through his mind when he tackled the young man, Mr Clark said: '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.' The 17-year-old was wearing a hi-vis jacket over a black suit, with a tool belt. The pilot emptied the tools from the belt while the boy was being detained. An airline attendant could be seen taking what appeared to be a gun off the plane. Passengers had boarded the plane via the tarmac. Initial reports on Thursday afternoon suggested a person wearing a hi-vis vest got onto the the plane without passing through security, claiming he needed to do maintenance. Police believe the teen from Ballarat managed to get onto the tarmac after breaching a security fence. A police spokesman said on Thursday that there was no ongoing threat to the community. 'We were all boarded, I was last on, sat in my chair, heard a kerfuffle and saw the pilot and this other guy tackling this young boy in a high-vis vest,' Woodrow told the ABC. 'In a split second, the gentleman Barry Clark in 1C saw him and jumped him, tackled him and got him in a choke lock, disarmed him. 'Pilot jumped in too, myself and another gentleman come up to support and hold him down.' A Jetstar spokesperson confirmed flights are operating as scheduled at Avalon Airport on Friday. 'We are working with police and airport authorities as they investigate a security incident at Avalon Airport yesterday,' the spokesperson told NewsWire. 'The safety of our passengers and crew is our number one priority and we can confirm there were no reported injuries. 'We know this would have been a very distressing situation and we are sincerely grateful to the customers who assisted our crew to safely manage the situation.'
