17-Year-Old Arrested After Carrying a Shotgun Onto Jetstar Plane at Avalon Airport

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Victoria: A major security breach at Avalon Airport has raised serious concerns after a 17-year-old allegedly bypassed airport security, armed with a shotgun, and attempted to board a Jetstar flight. 

The teenager, dressed as a maintenance worker, was confronted and tackled by passengers before being arrested by police. The dramatic incident, which unfolded in front of 160 passengers, prompted an airport lockdown and an urgent review of security measures.

Security Breach and Arrest

On March 6, 2025, Victoria Police were called to Avalon Airport, near Melbourne, at approximately 2:50 PM following reports that a teenager had breached security and gained access to Jetstar flight JQ610 bound for Sydney. According to ABC News Australia, the suspect allegedly entered the airport by climbing through a hole in the perimeter fence. 

Dressed in high-visibility clothing resembling that of maintenance workers, he then approached the aircraft on foot and attempted to board via the front stairs. Suspicion arose when crew members realized that all scheduled maintenance checks had already been completed, prompting them to question his presence.

As the teenager tried to enter the plane, passengers reacted swiftly. Barry Clark, a passenger seated in 1C, tackled the suspect, aided by two other passengers and the flight’s pilot.

“He got agitated, and before we knew it, a shotgun appeared. All I could do was push [the flight attendant] out of the way, get the gun out of the way, break that, throw it down the stairs, and then put him in a hold and throw him to the ground until the police came,” Clark told ABC Radio.

Watch the video below:

Teen Faces Court Over Multiple Charges

Following his arrest, the teenager was charged with 12 offences, including unlawfully taking control of an aircraft, orchestrating a bomb hoax, and possessing a firearm. The 17-year-old faced a children’s court on Friday, March 8, where he appeared wearing a white shirt and was flanked by custody officers.

His defense lawyer noted that it was the teenager’s first time in custody, while the magistrate acknowledged his vulnerability due to his age, 9News reported

The teen nodded as the magistrate addressed him. “You’re obviously in custody at the moment, you’ve been charged with some offenses by the police, you’re not making an application for bail today,” the magistrate said.

He was remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear in court again on March 21.

Airport Lockdown and Jetstar’s Response

After the incident, Avalon Airport was placed into lockdown while authorities investigated. Flights were temporarily suspended but resumed later that evening. Avalon Airport CEO Ari Suss assured passengers that additional security measures had been implemented to prevent future breaches.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also addressed the incident, stating that Australian airports have robust security and commending the swift actions of police and aviation officials in handling the situation.

Jetstar praised its staff and passengers for their quick actions. Jetstar CEO Stephanie Tully later confirmed that the pilot involved in the incident had chosen to return to duty immediately, highlighting the professionalism of the airline’s crew. The airline also offered Barry Clark free flights to Sydney for the rest of the year in recognition of his bravery.

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