Wade Douglas Corbett: Drunk and disorderly Jetstar passenger who turned back a plane mid-flight learns his fate
A man whose drunken behaviour forced a Jetstar plane to turn around mid-flight has been fined thousands of dollars and ordered to cover the cost of fuel dumped by the returning plane.
Wade Douglas Corbett, 34, appeared in Perth District Court on Monday where he was fined $9,000 for causing a public disorderly conduct on Jetstar flight JQ 989 in September last year.
The pilot’s antics forced him to turn around an hour before the plane’s departure to Sydney, leaving 150 passengers stranded in Perth overnight.
Last week, Corbett pleaded guilty to one count of disorderly conduct on an aircraft and one count of failure to comply with safety instructions.
During the ill-fated flight, Corbett was refused further alcohol due to intoxication, after which he intimidated the cabin crew.
He then ignored the pilot’s order to fasten his seat belt and locked himself in the toilet, refusing to come out.
To land safely back in Perth, the pilot had to dump $20,000 worth of fuel.
Once back on the tarmac, airline personnel contacted the Australian Federal Police for assistance in escorting Corbett from the aircraft.
Wade Douglas Corbett, 34, was fined $9,000 by Perth District Court on Monday for causing a public disorderly conduct on Jetstar flight JQ 989 in September last year
In addition to the $9,000 fine, Corbett was also ordered to pay more than $8,630 in fuel costs.
Shona Davis, acting chief of the federal police, hopes the case will serve as a reminder “that criminal behaviour on board can come at a high price for the offender”.
“It is much easier to follow the directions of the airline staff than to cause unnecessary problems that could get you into trouble later,” she said.
‘The AFP strives to ensure that all travelers have a safe journey from their departure to their arrival at their destination.’
After a court hearing last September, Corbett laughingly apologized to the passengers he had left behind in the courtroom and began flexing his biceps for no apparent reason
Corbett threatened Jetstar staff when they refused to serve him more alcohol and then locked himself in the toilets on a flight from Perth to Sydney last September
After Corbett appeared in Perth District Court last September, he was asked what he had to say to passengers inconvenienced by his antics.
He laughed and said, “Sorry guys.”
He then began flexing his biceps as reporters continued to demand answers.
Corbett flew to New South Wales for an unrelated court case before disrupting the flight.