An Australian teenager was arrested and charged after bringing a shotgun and ammunition onboard a Jetstar airplane and getting overpowered by passengers.
Law enforcement personnel took custody of the 17-year-old, who was filmed being wrestled to the ground by passengers and crew. The incident took place as the aircraft was preparing to take off from Avalon Airport near Melbourne, as it carried 160 people who were bound for Sydney on Thursday.
Australian Teen Arrested for Bringing Shotgun on Plane
Police said that the suspect was able to get onto the airport tarmac by breaching a security fence nearby and climbing the front steps to the plane. At that point, he was immediately tackled to the ground near the front door.
The teenager, who has not yet been identified, was arrested and is now set to appear in youth court to face eight charges. These include unlawfully taking control of an aircraft, endangering the flight's safety, and creating a bomb hoax, according to BBC.
In a statement, Victoria Police also said that a bomb specialist was called and brought in to search a car and two bags that were found nearby. The footage of the incident showed the teen being restrained by a passenger while a member of the plane's ground crew and a pilot removed a utility belt that contained tools he was carrying on his person.
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The video also showed the pilot kicking away the shotgun that the suspect brought, and someone onboard could be heard asking, "How is this possible?" Police noted that the teenager was from the nearby Ballarat area.
It seems like the suspect was able to avoid suspicion initially because he was wearing hi-vis clothing, which made other people think that he was a maintenance worker. Victoria police superintendent Michael Reid said that the situation could have been a terrifying incident for the people involved, The Guardian reported.
Overpowering the Suspect
He added that law enforcement personnel commended the bravery that the plane's passengers and crew showed in overpowering the suspect. While Reid confirmed that ammunition was found with the teen's shotgun, he did not confirm reports saying there were knives and petrol in the area.
Reid said that it was very concerning that a person could simply breach security, approach an aircraft, and get so close to potentially using a firearm inside the aircraft. Law enforcement personnel also found the suspect's vehicle and were in communication with counter-terror teams.
During the suspect's court appearance, the teenager was asked if he understood that he would be remanded into custody and if he had any questions. The 17-year-old simply said, "No, I do not," according to Yahoo News.
