Unruly airline passenger facing $13,000 in fines after she became ‘disorderly and abusive’ on Cairns-Melbourne flight

A Queensland woman could be hit with more than $13,000 in fines after allegedly becoming ‘disorderly and abusive’ on a flight to Melbourne.

The flight captain asked the cabin crew and two passengers, who were off-duty first responders, to act in the early hours of Friday morning to restrain the 44-year-old from Mareeba in far north Queensland.

It was grounded for the remainder of the flight from Cairns while the Australian Federal Police (AFP) met the flight crew at the gate, according to an AFP spokesman.

“It will be alleged that the woman was consuming her own alcohol on board and became disorderly and abusive towards passengers and cabin crew,” the spokesman said.

A Queensland woman could be hit with more than $13,000 in fines after allegedly becoming ‘disorderly and abusive’ on a flight to Melbourne (stock image)

An AFP spokesman said the woman was detained for the remainder of the flight from Cairns while police met the flight crew at the Melbourne gate (stock image)

“The flight captain then authorized the use of on-board restraints to de-escalate the situation, which were lifted when members of the AFP attended the Melbourne gate.”

Acting AFP Superintendent Amanda Glover said there was a zero-tolerance approach to anti-social, violent or dangerous behavior on board flights and the woman would be charged with an offense for offensive and disorderly behavior on an aircraft.

“It would be scary for anyone to be locked in an enclosed space with someone who is behaving aggressively,” she said.

Passengers, especially those traveling with children, expect to feel safe and should not witness drunkenness, violence or bad behaviour.’

The maximum penalty for disorderly conduct on an aircraft is a fine of up to $13,750.