A passenger on a Qantas flight from Melbourne to Dallas was removed and banned from all Qantas Group flights after allegedly biting a crew member, forcing the aircraft to divert to Papeete, Tahiti.
The safety of our customers and our crew is our number one priority. We have zero tolerance for disruptive or threatening behaviour on our flights. – Qantas spokesperson
Incident Overview
A disruptive passenger on a Qantas flight from Melbourne to Dallas-Fort Worth caused the aircraft to divert to Papeete, Tahiti, after allegedly biting a crew member. The passenger was arrested by local authorities upon landing and has since been banned from all Qantas Group flights, including Jetstar.
- The flight was forced to divert after the passenger became aggressive.
- Local authorities boarded the plane in Papeete and took the passenger into custody.
- The aircraft was refueled and successfully continued its journey to Dallas.
Details of the Incident
Comedian Mike Goldstein, who was also aboard the flight, recorded part of the incident and posted the footage on Instagram.
The video shows the passenger emerging from a bathroom, stumbling, slurring words, and swearing at both crew and passengers. A flight attendant immediately instructed the passenger to behave, noting that there were children present.
The passenger responded by expressing confusion about being on a plane and asked if he was "smoking any weed." The situation escalated when the passenger became more aggressive after being instructed to go to the back of the plane.
According to a post on X by Air Nav Radar, the passenger bit a crew member during the altercation. This detail has not yet been confirmed by the airline or local authorities.
Official Statements
A Qantas spokesperson released the following statement:
"The safety of our customers and our crew is our number one priority. We have zero tolerance for disruptive or threatening behaviour on our flights."
The Australian Federal Police have been contacted for comment, but no further details have been released at this time.