A passenger on a flight across Australia had to shell out thousands of dollars due to his disruptive actions, which led to the plane turning back mid-journey.
Wade Corbett, 34, was among over 150 passengers on a Jetstar flight traveling from Perth to Sydney when the incident occurred last September.
Corbett reportedly refused to fasten his seatbelt when requested, and when the pilot intervened, he locked himself in the restroom and would not come out.
Additionally, Corbett allegedly displayed intimidating behavior toward cabin crew when he was denied more alcohol.
This forced the pilot to divert the plane back to Perth, necessitating the dumping of fuel worth over $13,330 ($20,000 AUD) to ensure a safe landing.
Upon landing, the Australian Federal Police were called in, and Corbett was arrested and charged.
The other passengers were left stranded overnight as a result.
At a court appearance in Perth last September, Corbett was asked if he had a message for the passengers stranded due to his actions. He laughed and said, “Sorry guys.”
Nearly a year later, Corbett appeared in court again and pleaded guilty to charges of disorderly behavior on an aircraft and failure to comply with safety instructions.
Consequently, he was ordered by Perth Magistrates Court to pay a fuel cost of more than $5,750 ($8,630 AUD) and a fine of $6,000 ($9,000 AUD).
Federal Police Acting Superintendent Shona Davis criticized Corbett’s actions in a statement outside the court, emphasizing that such behavior could lead to severe consequences. She said, “It’s far simpler to obey the directions of airline staff than cause unnecessary issues, which can end up hitting you in the hip pocket,” per The West Australian.
“The AFP is committed to ensuring all travellers have a safe journey from their departure through to their arrival at their destination.”
Dumping fuel is a standard procedure for planes that depart with a weight exceeding the maximum landing weight.
Typically, the fuel burned during a flight is enough to reduce the plane’s weight to a safe landing level. However, because Corbett’s flight couldn’t reach its destination, the pilot had to dump fuel to ensure the aircraft was light enough for a secure landing.