A Qantas passenger has been issued a lifetime ban from future travel with the airline after a Melbourne-to-Dallas flight was forced to divert following an alleged assault on a flight attendant. The incident occurred on Qantas flight QF21, which departed Melbourne for Dallas at 2:30 pm local time on Friday. Seven hours into the journey, the aircraft was diverted to Papeete in Tahiti due to the passenger's misconduct.
Incident Details
According to a Qantas spokesperson cited by The Guardian, passengers and crew members intervened to assist the flight attendant during the alleged assault. After the plane landed in Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia, local authorities met the flight and the passenger was handed a lifetime no-fly ban covering all future Qantas and Jetstar services. The aircraft was refueled and resumed its journey to Dallas approximately 35 minutes later, eventually arriving on Saturday morning.
Airline's Response
A Qantas spokesperson emphasized the airline's commitment to safety, stating, "The safety of our customers and our crew is our number one priority and we have zero tolerance for disruptive or threatening behaviour on our flights." This incident is part of a series of disruptive episodes on Australian flights, several of which have resulted in arrests.
Similar Incidents
Last month, a 45-year-old man from Queanbeyan was charged over alleged disorderly and aggressive behavior on a flight from Canberra to Perth. During that incident, he was restrained mid-air after allegedly attempting to bite another passenger. According to the Australian Federal Police, the man shouted, swore, and ignored safety instructions from airline crew during the April 16 flight. He also allegedly kicked a cabin manager while being restrained and attempted to bite a fellow passenger who was helping crew members control the situation. He was charged with three offenses, including assaulting an aircraft crew member, which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.
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