A 17-year-old boy, allegedly armed with a gun, was detained after he reportedly breached security by pushing through a fence at Avalon Airport and attempting to board a Jetstar flight to Sydney. The incident unfolded around 3pm on Thursday when the teenager, disguised in hi-vis clothing as a maintenance worker, was spotted by passengers on flight JQ610, which was carrying about 160 passengers.
The situation escalated quickly as at least three passengers subdued the teenager after noticing his weapon. Police Superintendent Michael Reid praised the bravery of the passengers, describing the event as terrifying for those on board. "No doubt this would have been a very terrifying incident for the passengers of that plane," Reid stated, emphasizing the courage of those who intervened.
The teenager was arrested following the restraint by passengers. Reid mentioned that the teen seemed to be acting alone and was unknown to police prior to the incident. The airport was locked down post-event, and the teen was led away in hi-vis by officers as shown in footage obtained by Nine News.
Investigations are underway involving counterterrorism units and the Australian Federal Police due to the security breach and the presence of a firearm. Barry Clark, one of the passengers who helped subdue the teen, recounted the ordeal on ABC Radio Melbourne, explaining how he reacted when the teen revealed a shotgun. Clark managed to disarm the teen and hold him until police arrived, driven by his instinct to protect others.
The flight, originally scheduled to depart at 2:55pm, did not leave on time, and all Jetstar operations at Avalon were cancelled for the evening. Avalon Airport CEO Ari Suss confirmed their focus on safety and cooperation with the ongoing police investigation.
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