Alleged nude race on Virgin flight from Perth to Melbourne leads to man's arrest | Air Transport

A Virgin Australia flight from Perth to Melbourne was forced to turn around and land shortly after takeoff after a passenger allegedly ran naked into the cabin and knocked a crew member to the ground.

Australian Federal Police officers encountered VA696 upon his return to Perth Airport on Monday evening and arrested the man after the plane turned around about an hour into the flight to Melbourne.

A Virgin spokesperson said on Tuesday that the flight – which normally lasts around three and a half hours – had returned because of a “disruptive passenger” who was “disembarked” by police.

“The safety of our guests and crew is our top priority and we sincerely apologize to the affected guests,” the spokesperson said.

Federal police said they were alerted to the incident by airport staff and “officers arrested a man after he allegedly ran naked onto the plane mid-flight and knocked a crew member to the ground “.

Sterling, a passenger on the plane who only gave his first name, said that an hour into the flight, “all of a sudden I hear this running down the aisle and the guy n He has no clothes and he just rushes to the front of the plane.

The 23-year-old mining engineer was flying to Melbourne to complete his university degree on Tuesday morning. He told Guardian Australia he was initially alarmed at the sight of someone charging towards the cockpit.

Sterling said that after the man allegedly knocked down the flight attendant, there was “a lot of yelling and screaming” near the cockpit.

“At first you think, God forbid, it might be an attack. It's really annoying to be on a plane in this situation.

Sterling continued: “A good Samaritan, this big guy in business class, immediately jumped in to intervene, and then these other two guys got up later and tackled him to the ground. »

The man was pinned to the ground before being handcuffed and walked to the rear of the plane, he added.

Another passenger who was on the plane said the man allegedly “suddenly went bananas, running down the aisle and hitting the cockpit door.”

“Two air marshals had to restrain and handcuff the individual until (the flight) landed,” the passenger told Melbourne radio 3AW.

The alleged disruptive passenger was transported to a local hospital for evaluation, where he remained Tuesday. He was due to appear in Perth Magistrates Court in June, with charges yet to be finalized.