Man Arrested for Running Naked Through Virgin Australia Flight, Knocking Over Flight Attendant

A Virgin Australia flight en route to Melbourne on Monday night was forced to make an emergency turnaround after a disruptive passenger ran naked through the cabin, knocking over a flight attendant. The incident prompted the pilots to return the aircraft to Perth, according to the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

The flight, VA696, had departed Perth as scheduled and was about an hour into its journey when the disturbance occurred. FlightAware tracking confirmed the unscheduled U-turn. A Virgin Australia spokesperson told USA TODAY that the crew followed protocol to handle the “disruptive passenger.”

Upon the plane’s safe return to Perth, AFP officers boarded the aircraft and arrested the man. He had allegedly run naked through the cabin and pushed a crew member to the floor. The passenger is currently undergoing assessment at a local hospital and is expected to appear before Perth Magistrates Court on June 14. The specific charges he will face have not yet been finalized.

A fellow passenger recounted the chaotic scene to Guardian Australia, describing sudden commotion as the naked man ran down the aisle, causing yelling and screaming among the passengers.

Virgin Australia emphasized that the safety of their guests and crew is their top priority and apologized to those impacted by the incident. The flight eventually continued to Melbourne, landing 28 minutes behind schedule.

This incident follows another recent case of unruly passenger behavior on a United Airlines flight, where a passenger faced significant restitution fees after causing a diversion due to a loud argument. As airlines continue to enforce strict protocols for passenger behavior, disruptions of this nature underscore the importance of maintaining safety and order on board.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, usatoday.com