Security questions as boy charged over Jetstar incident
Security at a major Victorian airport is in the spotlight after passengers and crew tackled a teenage boy who allegedly forced his way into a flight with a gun.
Police were called to Avalon Airport near Geelong on Thursday afternoon following reports a male wielding a firearm had tried to board the Jetstar flight.
Victoria Police Superintendent Michael Reid said the 17-year-old from Ballarat allegedly climbed through a hole in the airport’s security fence before making his way on foot to the plane.
The teenager was charged with multiple offences, including unlawfully taking control of an aircraft, orchestrating a bomb hoax and possessing a firearm.
He was remanded in custody to face Victoria’s Children’s Court on Friday.
Avalon Airport had fully reopened by Friday afternoon, with all flights operating as normal.
No one was hurt during the incident aboard the Sydney-bound Jetstar flight carrying 150 people. But questions had emerged for the airport.
Avlaw Aviation Consulting chair Ron Bartsch said it the incident was “simply not acceptable” and all airports should have the same level of security.
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“It’s not inconceivable that someone with some wire cutters or whatever can cut through a fence, so it makes a mockery of having sophisticated scanning and security systems if people can simply bypass it,” he told ABC Radio Melbourne.
“The airline has their own security training and their own security experts, but that’s got to marry up and integrate with the security on the tarmac, ramp operations and throughout the airport.
“Any breakdown in the system can cause something like this, irrespective where it happens – at the airline level or at the airport level.”
Avalon Airport provided the above statement. Image: Via The New Daily
Airport’s chief executive Ari Suss said the organisation was working with Victoria Police.
“As part of our ongoing commitment to security, we have implemented further measures across the airport, including within the terminal and surrounding areas,” he said.
“We continue to work closely with authorities to maintain a safe and secure environment for all travellers.”
Victoria Police say they do not believe the incident was terrorism related.
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The teen allegedly tried to climb the front stairs into the plane cabin but was seen by passengers and subsequently overpowered by three civilians, Reid said.
“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,” he said.
Footage from the Seven Network appears to show the restrained teenager being restrained on board. A man dressed in a pilot’s uniform removes tools from his toolbelt, and throws them out of reach.
Passenger Barry Clark was one of those who tackled the teen as he spoke to a flight attendant.
“Before we knew it, a shotgun appeared and I was worried about it being shot,” Clark, a retired shearer who is also reportedly from Ballarat, told the ABC on Friday.
“All I could do was push her out of the way, get the gun out of the way, break that gun and throw it down the stairs, and then put him in a hold, throw him to the ground until the police came.”
Clark said “you don’t think, you act”, in such situations.
“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,” he said.
“I didn’t want to see that poor girl get shot, so you’ve just got to do what you’ve got to do.”
Suss said Clark would get “free flights for life” from Avalon after his act of bravery.
“He is a hero. I told Barry he changed the course of history with what he did. I believe one of the Jetstar pilots also showed immense bravery,” he said.
“The Jetstar crew, the Jetstar team, our Avalon team, the aircraft engineers, everyone’s just done an amazing job, fantastic job.”
Jetstar said it was working with police and the airport to understand what happened.
