Police are investigating after a man attempted to board a Jetstar flight with a gun on Thursday afternoon, scary passengers.
Victoria police have confirmed that they were called to the airport outside Melbourne at 2.50pm, following a report of a man with an attempt to ride a commercial flight.
The man was jailed before boarding the plane. Guardian Australia understands that flight crews are involved in removing him.
The man was in custody and no injuries were reported.
The incident at the city’s second airport, which only Jetstar operates commercial flights to, understood that it happened in connection with a passenger flight between Sydney and Avalon service.
In a statement, a Jetstar spokesperson said: “We are aware of an Avalon Airport security incident this afternoon and working with the police and airports to urgently understand what happened. The safety of our passengers and staff is our number one priority and we can confirm that no damage has been reported.”
Kim Mcleod was on Jetstar Flight 610 from Avalon to Sydney for a work trip, and said that he and fellow passengers were in their seats when the incident began.
“We just got on the flight, we sat down, and suddenly there was a riot in front of the cabin, you could say something was happening because people started it.”
He said he was afraid it was an attempt to jack.
“The pilot eventually got to the broadcaster and said that someone boarded the plane with a large gun.”
The man allegedly came from as a maintenance worker, Mcleod told Guardian Australia.
“That’s how they got to the plane. It’s obviously a security violation. I don’t know how they got that.”
The skepticism was raised after the crew was told of maintenance checks, but the man who dressed as a maintenance worker was on the surface.
“A pilot and passenger patted him on the ground,” Mcleod said.
After the man was jailed, the passengers then boarded the plane and the airport was closed, Mcleod said. He said the passengers had told their luggage to be delivered to them later. The airport is in the lockdown.
Mcleod, who lives in Torquay in Victoria, is heading to Sydney for work, but since no additional flights left the airport on Thursday, he will not travel.
“Everyone really hesitates,” he said.
Ari Suss, the CEO of Avalon Airport, confirmed in a statement that the airport is now closed to guests until further notice while the incident is currently being investigated.
“Our immediate focus is on the safety of our passengers and staff,” Suss said.
