A 57-year-old man has been charged with allegedly assaulting a Qantas cabin crew member before a flight from Perth to Melbourne took off.
The man had been seated in an emergency exit row on Friday when he allegedly became aggressive towards airline staff, according to the Australian Federal Police (AFP).
Police allege he went to the toilet and was later deemed unsuitable to remain in the exit-row seat. Cabin crew asked him to move when he returned.
The AFP said the man then tried to retrieve luggage from an overhead locker before allegedly pushing a cabin manager in the chest with both hands.
A member of the public helped cabin crew restrain the accused. He was escorted from the aircraft and arrested by AFP officers.
He has been charged with one count of common assault and is due to appear before Perth Magistrates Court on Saturday.
The flight and its return service were cancelled after the man was removed. Passengers were provided with alternative flights.
A Qantas spokesperson said: “The safety of our customers and our crew is our number one priority. And we have zero tolerance for disruptive or threatening behaviour on our flights.”
