A passenger caused a significant security scare at Melbourne Airport in Australia after exiting a stationary Jetstar plane through an emergency exit and descending onto the tarmac via the aircraft’s wing and jet engine on Thursday.
The incident occurred on Jetstar Flight JQ507, which had just landed from Sydney and was parked at a terminal gate. According to officials, the man, whose identity has not been disclosed, opened the emergency exit on the right side of the Airbus A320, triggering the automatic deployment of an emergency slide. However, instead of using the slide, he walked along the wing and descended one of the jet engines to reach the tarmac.
Passengers onboard were alarmed by the man’s behavior, which had already been erratic before he made his unconventional exit. Audrey Varghese, a fellow passenger, described the scene as chaotic, with people screaming and panicking as the man rushed to the emergency exit as soon as the plane came to a stop.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers were notified by Jetstar staff and swiftly arrested the man for “alleged aggressive behavior and breaching aircraft safety protocols.” After being apprehended, the man was assessed by paramedics and taken to a hospital for further evaluation. Authorities are continuing their investigation, and charges are expected to be filed at a later date.
Melbourne Airport commended the quick response from both flight and ground personnel, which ensured that there was no immediate danger to other passengers or staff. This incident follows a similar event on an American Airlines flight earlier in the month, where a passenger, allegedly under the influence of marijuana edibles, attempted to open emergency exits mid-flight, causing a disruption and an urgent landing.