Teenager Tackled by Passengers After Allegedly 'Breaching Security Fence' and Boarding Flight with Gun

Mar. 15, 2025

A Jetstar Airways plane in June 2021.Photo:Brendon Thorne/Bloomberg via Getty

Brendon Thorne/Bloomberg via Getty

According to a press release fromVictoria Police, officers were called to the airpot around 2.20 p.m. local time “after a male had entered a commercial flight armed with a firearm.”

Police added that they “located two bags and a vehicle belonging to the boy” and the “Bomb Response Unit were called to assist with the bags as a safety precaution.”

Avalon Airport in Australia.Michael Currie/Speed Media/Shutterstock

Michael Currie/Speed Media/Shutterstock

Victoria Police superintendent Michael Reid said, per the outlet, “As he’s approached the plane, he’s mounted or climbed the front stairs, to the front of the plane. At that point, passengers have identified the male was carrying a firearm.”

A Jetstar plane at Sydney Airport in January 2024.Jenny Evans/Getty

Jenny Evans/Getty

Police added that no one was injured during the incident, per their release. “The investigation into the incident is ongoing but there is no ongoing threat to the community,” they concluded.

According to ABC, the teen from Victoria was dressed in hi-vis clothing, similar to what the airport ground crew were wearing.

“He was dressed up as a worker and he got agitated and before we knew it there was a gun — shotgun appeared — and I was worried about there being shots so all I could do was get the gun out of the way, threw it down the stairs — try to — and then put him in a hold and throw him to the ground til the police come,” Clark said.

He continued, “He had other apparatus on him so I didn’t know what his full intention was.”

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The outlet reported that the boy is likely to be charged with federal and state offenses. Police are reportedly not treating the case as a terror incident.

“The safety of our passengers and crew is our number one priority and we can confirm there were no reported injuries,” the statement continued. “We know this would have been a very distressing situation and we are sincerely grateful to the customers who assisted our crew to safely manage the situation.”

source: people.com