An Australian man reportedly assaulted an airline crew member at an airport. An altercation escalated when the passenger refused to take his seat because he wanted to use the bathroom.
According to a news release by the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the incident occurred on July 14, 2025. The AFP claims a passenger “refused a crew member’s instruction to take his seat as a flight to Brisbane was preparing for departure.” The man reportedly wanted to use the bathroom instead.
The situation escalated, and the man reportedly pushed the crew member. Staff notified the flight captain, who requested the AFP to remove the man from the plane as they hadn’t yet taken off.
The Australian Man Was ‘Uncooperative’ With The Police
The news release notes that the man was “allegedly uncooperative with police” when officers removed him from the plane. The AFP reveals that authorities charged him with one count of assaulting a crew member, which carries a maximum sentence of 14 years. It is unknown if the man was under the influence of alcohol at the time.
AFP Inspector Peter Brindal reportedly said that any aggressive or violent behavior toward airline crew members is unacceptable. “The AFP has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to the assault or mistreatment of airline staff, and anyone who commits such an offence can be prosecuted,” he stated.
Last month, a passenger on board an Allegiant Air Flight thought it was a good idea to pretend they had a bomb with them. The plane was en route to Roanoke, Virginia, and the threat prompted the pilot to make an emergency landing at St. Pete-Clearwater Airport in Florida. The aircraft had departed from the same airport minutes earlier.
Authorities say they responded to a “verbal bomb threat” after multiple passengers heard the suspect claim that his laptop was a bomb. Police arrested him when the plane touched down, and the FBI was reportedly involved.
Authorities performed a sweep of the aircraft after the incident with a K9 unit. They confirmed there were no bombs on board. Police reportedly charged the man with making a false bomb threat, which can carry a $25,000 fine and prison time.