The Ballarat teenager reportedly went into the airport grounds by raw through a hole in a security fence.
The teenager was charged after working with police and attempting to board a plane with a firearm before being arrested.
The incident occurred on the afternoon of March 6th at an airport near Geelong, Victoria.
Police reporters say the 17-year-old Ballarat, who was reportedly rushed through a hole in a security fence before heading to the Jetstar aircraft heading to Sydney.
The flight carried around 150 passengers at the time, but no injuries were reported.
Police allegedly found two bags and a vehicle belonging to the boy. The bomb response unit was called to assist the bag as a safety precaution. Luckily, no one was physically injured during the incident.
Authorities have charged teenagers with several crimes, including attempts to gain control of the aircraft, threats of bombs, possession of firearms, and more. He will remain in custody and is expected to appear in the child’s court at a later date.
Passengers intervene to conquer the suspect
Police said the suspect tried to board the aircraft via the front stairs but was soon noticed by a passenger who intervened. Three individuals were able to overwhelm him before the authorities arrived.
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Barry Clark, one of the people involved, spoke of the conflict, explaining that the suspect was dressed as a maintenance worker and that he was visibly upset while talking to the flight attendant.
“All of a sudden a shotgun appeared and I was worried it would go away,” Clark told ABC Radio Melbourne.
“All I could do was push the flight attendant out of the way, take the gun out of his hand, tear it apart, and lower the stairs. Then I put him in the hold until the police arrived.”
Jetstar confirmed that it is working closely with Victoria Police and Avalon Airport to investigate security violations.
Avalon Airport CEO Ari Suss said additional security measures have been implemented throughout the terminal and surrounding areas to prevent future incidents.
Surge in aviation-related security incidents
The Avalon incident lies in a broader increase in destructive and threatening behavior at Australian airports.
Just a week ago, a 44-year-old Brisbane man was charged with traveling under his false identity on an aircraft in a threatening statement.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) responded to the incident at Sydney Airport on January 14th. There, the suspect allegedly referenced the bomb while talking on his cell phone before taking off on a Brisbane-bound flight.
AFP detective principal Morgen Brunden highlighted the agency’s zero-tolerance approach to aviation threats.
“Traveling by aircraft should be a safe experience for passengers and airline crews too,” he said. “AFP will continue to work with airline partners to address actions that undermine the security of our aviation.”
Between December 2024 and January 2025, AFP officials responded to 4,205 cases at major airports across Australia, with 93 people facing 132 charges.
Almost half of these cases included assault or property damage. One serious case at Perth Airport was reportedly a 34-year-old woman attacked two AFP officials, leaving one injured in need of hospital treatment.
