A 59-year-old man has been charged in Australia for allegedly assaulting a flight attendant during a dispute over using the bathroom as a flight prepared to depart from Perth Airport.
According to a statement from the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the man — whose name has not been released — was scheduled to fly to Brisbane on July 14 when he allegedly refused to comply with a crew member’s instruction to remain seated during takeoff. Instead, police say, he attempted to use the bathroom and pushed a crew member who tried to stop him.
The flight’s captain was notified, and police were called to the gate, where they removed the man from the aircraft. Authorities said he was also uncooperative during their response.
An image released by AFP shows the man in a white button-up shirt and black pants sitting inside the terminal as officers take him into custody. It remains unclear whether alcohol or other substances played a role in the incident.
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“The AFP has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to the assault or mistreatment of airline staff,” said AFP Inspector Peter Brindal. “Airline crews are there to ensure passenger safety, and aggressive behavior toward them is unacceptable.”
The man has been charged with one count of assaulting a crew member under section 318A of Australia’s Criminal Code — a charge that carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison if convicted. He is expected to appear in Perth Magistrates Court on July 29.
This incident comes amid a global rise in unruly passenger behavior. In the U.S., the Federal Aviation Administration has logged 934 reports of disruptive passengers so far in 2025. Passengers involved in such incidents may face felony charges and fines of up to $37,000 per violation.
Authorities continue to remind travelers that disruptive or violent behavior on board flights will not be tolerated.
