A West Australian woman is scheduled to appear in Perth Magistrates Court today (15 October, 2025) charged over alleged disruptive behaviour on a domestic flight.
AFP officers responded to a request for assistance from airline staff at Perth Airport about an incident on a flight departing for Melbourne on 20 June, 2025.
The woman, 29, allegedly verbally abused cabin crew after they asked her to remove a bum bag from around her waist - which was sitting under her seatbelt - as the flight prepared to leave.
The plane was forced to return to the departures gate where AFP officers boarded and removed the woman.
She was summonsed to appear in court today charged with:
- One count of failing to comply with safety instructions by cabin crew, contrary to regulation 91.580(2) of Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (Cth); and
- One count of behaving in an offensive and disorderly manner endangering safety on an aircraft, contrary to regulation 91.525(1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (Cth).
The maximum penalty for each offence is a $16,500 fine.
AFP Acting Superintendent Peter Brindal said airline staff and passengers should never be subjected to abusive or anti-social behaviour on flights.
"The disruptive actions of any individual or group on a flight can pose a direct threat to the safety of the aircraft, and also inconvenience fellow passengers," a/Supt Brindal said.
"The AFP works closely with the airline industry to intervene if anyone interferes with the safety of workers or the public in, or around, an airport, or on flights."
Stop and think. A safe journey starts with you.
Every piece of information you provide could be the key to identifying and preventing a threat at our airports. That's why the AFP is asking you to adopt the 'See it. Hear it. Report it.' approach.
Behaviours to report include:
- Taking photos of security cameras, screening, or perimeter fencing
- Avoiding screening
- Leaving bags unattended
- Loitering
- Concealing identity
- Exhibiting erratic behaviour
If you see it, or hear it, report it to Airport Watch at 131 237 (131 AFP).
You can make a difference!
