A passenger has been charged after allegedly trying to open emergency exit doors and assaulting cabin crew staff on a Malaysian flight bound for Australia.
The flight from Kuala Lumpur to Sydney was airborne on Saturday when the Jordanian man attempted to open the rear emergency exit, police say.
The 46-year-old was escorted to a seat in the middle of the aircraft but then tried to open another emergency door.
An airline staff member was assaulted as crew and passengers restrained the man, police allege.
Australian Federal Police officers met the jet after it touched down at Sydney Airport on Saturday night and arrested the allegedly unruly passenger.
He was expected to appear before court on Sunday and could face up to 10 years in prison after being charged with two counts of endangering the safety of an aircraft and one count of assaulting aircraft crew.
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Police declined to confirm the operator of the disrupted flight but only two passenger planes from Kuala Lumpur landed at Sydney Airport on Saturday night.
One was a Malaysian Airlines flight and the other was operated by Air Asia.
Both airlines have been contacted for comment, while Sydney Airport has declined to do so.
AFP Sydney Airport commander Detective Acting Superintendent Davina Copelin said the man’s alleged behaviour could have had tragic consequences.
“Passengers and airplane staff shouldn’t have to put up with unruly, violent or dangerous behaviour on flights,” she said.
“The AFP will not hesitate to take action against people who engage in criminal behaviour on airplanes, especially where this behaviour has the potential to endanger the safety of passengers, crew or the flight itself.”
The incident comes after a Jetstar flight from Bali to Melbourne was forced to turn back on Monday after a woman attempted to open a cabin door.
The woman lifted the door handle early in the flight before a warning signal alerted the crew.
She was arrested at Denpasar Airport and banned from flying with Jetstar.
A New Zealand man was also banned and charged after allegedly assaulting a Qantas staff member and two other people at Sydney Airport on Tuesday.
