A Jetstar passenger caused significant disruption at Melbourne International Airport after he forcibly opened the emergency exit door of an Airbus A320.
According to witnesses, the passenger, whose identity has not been released, was observed pacing and acting erratically in the cabin before the plane landed. Flight attendants repeatedly urged the individual to remain seated, but their requests were ignored.
Once the aircraft was parked at the gate, the passenger stood up and opened the emergency exit door, causing the evacuation slide to deploy. The individual then proceeded to walk along the wing of the plane, seemingly oblivious to the danger posed by the aircraft’s engines and the height above the ground.
Ground staff from Menzies, the airport’s handling company, intervened and restrained the passenger before they could cause further harm. The individual was subsequently arrested by the Australian Federal Police (AFP).
A spokesperson for Jetstar confirmed the incident, stating, “We can confirm that a passenger opened the emergency exit door after arrival into Melbourne, which automatically deployed the slide. The plane was parked at the gate at the time. The passenger has been arrested by the AFP.”
The AFP has indicated that the passenger is being assessed by medical professionals and will likely be transferred to a hospital for further evaluation.
