Source : Perth Now news
A Western Australia man caused flight chaos when he allegedly assaulted a Qantas cabin crew member at Perth Airport.
Police allege the 57-year-old man was sitting in an exit row and was acting aggressively towards staff before before the flight took off on Friday.
According to the Australian Federal Police, cabin crew believed he was unsuitable to sit in an exit row and asked him to move seats, leading to the alleged confrontation.
When the man tried to retrieve his luggage from an overhead locker, he allegedly pushed a cabin manager in the chest.
A passenger helped cabin crew restrain the man, before he left the aircraft.
He was charged with assault and is due to face the Perth Magistrates Court on Saturday.
“It will be alleged the man was seated in an exit row and was observed behaving aggressively towards airline staff, before leaving his seat and entering the toilet,” A spokesman for the Australian Federal Police said on Saturday.
“After returning to his seat, cabin crew assessed the man as unsuitable to remain seated in the exit row and asked him to move seats.
“It is alleged the man attempted to retrieve his luggage from an overhead locker, then pushed a cabin manager with both hands to the chest.”
The disruption forced Qantas to cancel two flights, but customers were provided with alternative flights on Friday.
A Qantas spokesman said the safety of their customers and our crew was their number one priority.
“We have zero tolerance for disruptive or threatening behaviour on our flights,” the spokesman said.
