A Jetstar passenger’s brutal action on a plane delays takeoff by FIVE HOURS – causing serious safety fears for all domestic flights
- Man can board Jetstar flight without boarding pass
- Passengers must be re-screened by security
- The ordeal led to a delay of nearly five hours
A ‘confused’ airline passenger launched an investigation after boarding a flight without a boarding pass, leading to a five-hour delay for other passengers.
The man, believed to be aged between 18 and 25, on Tuesday managed to board a Jetstar plane at Maroochydore Airport, on the Sunshine Coast, bound for Sydney without a ticket.
He had managed to go through two security checks before boarding the plane, and was only discovered when he moved into another passenger seat.
The man claimed he forgot his boarding pass outside the plane when asked by a flight attendant.
The incident resulted in passengers having to go through security again after 45 minutes on the plane, leading to a delay of almost five hours before it finally took off.
A man caused a nearly five-hour delay on Tuesday after boarding a Jetstar plane (pictured) without a boarding pass and was only discovered when he was in a different passenger seat
A passenger, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Courier Mail that the man appeared “lost and confused” before stepping off the plane “quietly” with the attendant.
They also indicated that they would seek compensation from Jetstar for the delays.
“We have strict procedures in place to ensure that all customers have valid boarding passes for our flights and we have launched an urgent investigation into the situation,” Jetstar said in a statement to Daily Mail Australia.
“The person was removed from the plane before departure and all passengers were re-screened as a precaution, causing the flight to be delayed.
“We sincerely apologize to customers for the impact on their journey.”
Kate McCreery-Carr, general operations manager of Sunshine Coast Airport, said the airport follows “strict Australian government regulations” regarding passenger safety.
She claimed that all safety procedures had been followed at the time of the incident and that no weapons or dangerous goods had been found on the man.
“All passengers and members of the public are required to clear airport security before entering the departure lounge,” Ms McCreery-Carr said.
“Our process includes screening passengers, their belongings and detecting traces of explosives.”
The man left the Sunshine Coast Airport (pictured) before Queensland Police could arrive, but was later identified by CCTV footage and is helping police with an ongoing investigation
A statement from the Sunshine Coast Airport said that “airlines will arrange for the checking and monitoring of passengers as they board their aircraft.”
“Sunshine Coast Airport is in contact with Jetstar regarding the incident,” the statement read.
Queensland Police arrived at the airport around 3:30 pm, but the man had already left the airport by then.
They were able to identify the man using CCTV footage and he is now assisting with ongoing investigations.