A Jetstar Airways plane lands at Sydney Airport on July 25, 2024. Credit – Saeed KHAN —Getty Images
A A passenger was arrested at an Australian airport Thursday after he exited a stationary plane through an emergency exit, walked along a wing and then climbed onto the tarmac via a jet engine, officials said.
At around 10am local time, Jetstar flight JQ507 arrived at Melbourne Airport from Sydney. At that time, a passenger exited the aircraft via the emergency exit, although a Jetstar spokesperson said the aircraft was parked at the gate at the time.
“We can confirm that a passenger opened the emergency exit upon arrival in Melbourne, which automatically opened the slide,” the spokesperson said in a statement emailed to TIME. “We thank our passengers for their patience and understanding as our team assisted the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in dealing with this incident.”
The man was detained by airport staff and subsequently arrested by the AFP, who later confirmed that the man was taken to hospital, where he is currently remaining.
“AFP officers have arrested a man for allegedly behaving aggressively and violating aircraft security protocols on a domestic flight from Sydney,” an AFP spokesperson said in a statement to TIME.
After the remaining passengers had left the plane, some spoke to news agencies about the incident. Audrey Varghese, who was on the flight, told 10 News First Melbourne that the man was behaving strangely.
“He ran a few rows ahead to the emergency exit, pushing people aside and shoving them, and then people started screaming and then he ripped open the emergency door,” Varghese alleged.
This isn’t the first time in recent history that a passenger has opened an emergency exit on an airplane, nor the first time they’ve been arrested for it. In January, an Aeromexico passenger opened the emergency exit and walked onto the wing of the plane – apparently in response to being stuck on the tarmac for hours, reportedly without air conditioning or water for passengers. Fellow passengers even wrote a joint statement in support of the man who made the unorthodox exit.
In 2020, a female passenger pulled a similar stunt—opening the emergency exit of a Ukraine International Airlines plane so that people could walk on the wing.
While the motive for the man walking on the wing at Melbourne Airport is not yet known, AFP reports that they are still investigating the matter and that charges are likely to be filed in the future.
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