Passenger who smashed plane window on flight to Groote Eylandt is jailed

A man who attacked passengers and caused more than $7,000 in damage after smashing a plane window has been sentenced to 16 months behind bars.

The 24-year-old became aggressive towards passengers and cabin crew during a flight from Cairns in Queensland to Groote Eylandt, off the Northern Territory, on April 20.

During the flight, he struck and damaged the plane, refused to follow instructions from airline staff and assaulted fellow passengers, Australian Federal Police said.

NT police arrested three passengers on the tarmac at Alyangula, on Groote Eylandt

He was one of four passengers arrested in two incidents during the flight.

The flight was forced to turn around after the first incident, the AFP said in a statement at the time.

After the initial altercation, a woman was charged before the plane took off again.

Then another incident broke out, resulting in three more passengers being charged when the plane landed in Alyangula on Groote Eylandt.

Upon landing, the Groote Eylandt man was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, violating a domestic violence order, endangering the safety of an aircraft and affray and assault on an aircraft.

The man pleaded guilty to all five offenses in Darwin Local Court on Thursday, the AFP said in a statement on Saturday.

“During the flight, the man became aggressive towards passengers and airline staff before hitting and damaging the aircraft,” the AFP statement said.

‘The man refused to follow instructions from airline staff and attacked fellow passengers.

‘Police and airline staff are there to ensure the safety of passengers and it is important that the public treats everyone at the airport and on board aircraft with respect.’

The plane’s internal window was smashed in the second of two alleged mid-air brawls in which four passengers were arrested