Canberra Woman Faces Court Over Alleged Mid-Flight Assault

A 52-year-old woman from Canberra is scheduled to appear in court today following an alleged assault on a cabin crew member during a flight to Perth last December.

According to an Australian Federal Police (AFP) statement, the woman allegedly grabbed the arm and head of a crew member, causing minor injuries. The incident occurred on December 13 as the aircraft prepared for departure from Canberra Airport.

Police allege that the woman was behaving erratically towards another passenger, which prompted the crew member to check on her well-being, leading to the alleged assault.

Arrest and Charges

Upon the plane's arrival at Perth Airport, AFP officers boarded the flight and escorted the woman off the aircraft. The police statement noted that she reportedly exhibited argumentative and aggressive behavior towards the officers.

The woman first appeared in court on December 14. She is facing two charges:

• Assaulting the crew of an aircraft.
• Behaving in an offensive and disorderly manner on an aircraft.

Each offense carries a maximum penalty of a $16,500 fine.