Drunk Jetstar passenger facing $27,500 fine

JETSTAR BOEING 787-8 VH-VKB (MSN 36228)

A Jetstar passenger whose allegedly drunken, disruptive and abusive behaviour that led to a flight from Perth to Sydney being turned around is facing the prospect of $27,500 in fines after being charged by Australian Federal Police.
The pilot of Jetstar flight JQ989 was forced to turn back shortly after take-off after the man allegedly verbally abused the crew and ignored their directions while intoxicated.
After the flight arrived back in Perth, the 33-year-old was arrested by AFP officers and later charged with offensive or disorderly behaviour in aircraft and failing to comply with safety instructions by cabin crew.
Each of those charges carries a maximum fine of $13,750.
"Airline staff are there to ensure the safety of passengers and they, along with every other passenger onboard, deserve to be treated with dignity and respect," AFP superintendent Peter Hatch said.
"Verbally abusing airline staff and failing to comply with their directions are serious offences. These matters are not something the AFP takes lightly."

JQ989 departed Perth from runway 21 at 12.08am on Tuesday morning and climbed to 35,000 feet. Fifty-two minutes into the flight, the pilot's made the decision to turn the aircraft around, landing back in Perth on runway 21 at 2.23 am.