A man has been charged with taking off his clothes and assaulting a staff member on a Melbourne-bound flight.
A 32-year-old Washington state man was arrested at Perth Domestic Airport on May 27 after airline staff reported the passenger had taken off his clothes and assaulted a flight attendant.
Staff managed to restrain the man, but the flight had to return to Perth Airport.
Australian Federal Police boarded the plane and spoke to the 32-year-old man before removing him from the plane.
He was arrested and undergone a mental health evaluation.
The man was charged with assaulting, threatening and intimidating a flight attendant, a crime that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
He was also charged with causing a nuisance or disorderly conduct on board an aircraft, which carries a maximum fine of $15,600.
AFP Perth Airport Police Commander Peter Hatch said AFP had a zero tolerance policy towards disruptive or criminal activity on flights or at the airport, stressing the safety and welfare of travellers and workers was “of the utmost importance”.
“People, especially when they are confined on a flight, expect to feel safe and not be subjected to aggressive or violent behavior,” he said.
“Such incidents may cause delays for other passengers and staff. AFP works closely with the airline industry to intervene when someone’s actions interfere with the safe operation of a flight.”
