Sonali Tiwary
Incident Breakdown: What Happened at Melbourne’s Secondary Airport
A severe security breach occurred at Avalon Airport on Thursday afternoon when a 17-year-old male allegedly attempted to board Jetstar flight JQ610 bound for Sydney while carrying a loaded shotgun. The teenager, dressed in a high-visibility vest and tool belt to mimic a maintenance worker, breached airport security but was quickly subdued by passengers and the pilot before police arrived.
Victoria Police Superintendent Michael Reid confirmed that the teenager entered the airport through a hole in the security fence at approximately 2:20 PM. “It’s very concerning that a person can approach an aircraft and make his way, potentially close to being inside an aircraft, with a firearm,” Reid stated.
Heroic Passenger Intervention Prevents Potential Disaster
Barry Clark, a shearer from Echuca seated in 1C, became the primary hero of the incident. Clark told ABC Radio Melbourne that he first noticed the young man when a female flight attendant was questioning him.
“He was dressed up as a worker and he got agitated and before we knew it, there was a gun – a shotgun appeared,” Clark recounted. “I was worried about there being shots so all I could do was get the gun out of the way, threw it down the stairs and try to put him in a hold and throw him to the ground till the police come.”
Clark added that the suspect had “other apparatus on him so I didn’t know what his full intention was.”
When asked about his quick thinking during the incident, Clark responded matter-of-factly: “You don’t think, you act. I’ve been taught from a boy to be responsible and look after others and we’re a sporting family so I was quietly confident I could handle him. I didn’t want to see that poor girl get shot so you’ve just got to do what you’ve got to do.”
Another passenger identified as Woodrow confirmed Clark’s actions: “In a split second, the gentleman Barry Clark in 1C saw him and jumped him, tackled him and got him in a choke lock, disarmed him. Pilot jumped in too, myself and another gentleman came up to support and hold him down.”
Security Breach Details and Law Enforcement Response
The teenager reportedly bypassed standard security protocols by entering through a breach in the airport’s perimeter fence. After making his way onto the tarmac undetected, he approached the aircraft, which was boarding passengers via stairs on the tarmac rather than through a secure jet bridge.
Superintendent Reid explained that the teenager made his way to the plane, walked up the stairs, and was just inside the plane when he was overpowered by several passengers. Police were called to the scene at 2:50 PM and took the young man into custody.
Reid confirmed the youth was carrying a loaded shotgun and said police are consulting with Counter Terrorism Command, though the incident is not yet being treated as terrorism-related. “It’s too early to establish that,” he noted. The superintendent also mentioned that the teenager was not previously known to police.
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Airport and Airline Response
Following the incident, Avalon Airport—Victoria’s second-busiest airport which primarily handles domestic Jetstar flights—went into immediate lockdown.
A Jetstar spokesperson issued a statement saying they were “aware of a security incident at Avalon Airport and were working with police to urgently understand what has occurred.” The airline emphasized that “the safety of our passengers and crew is our number one priority” and confirmed there were no reported injuries.
Avalon Airport stated that its immediate focus was on passenger and staff safety. An airport spokesperson announced that the facility would “be closed until further notice” while the matter was being handled by police. “Passengers involved are now allowed to leave the airport. Avalon are assisting people with transport to Beach Road if they aren’t parked at Avalon or aren’t using SkyBus,” the spokesperson added.
Security Protocol Concerns and Unanswered Questions
This incident raises significant questions about security protocols at regional airports. The teenager, disguised as a maintenance worker with a high-visibility vest and tool belt, managed to breach the perimeter fence and approach the aircraft without being detected by security personnel.
Several key security issues remain unclear:
- Whether the hole in the fence was pre-existing or created by the suspect
- How the suspect transported the weapons to the airport
- The specific intentions of the armed teenager
- Whether existing staff verification protocols are adequate
Legal Implications and Potential Charges
While specific charges have not yet been announced, Superintendent Reid indicated the teenager is likely to face both federal and state offenses. Under Australian law, attempting to bring firearms aboard commercial aircraft could result in severe penalties.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities have located the vehicle the teenager arrived in and are continuing their investigation into his motives and how he managed to breach security measures. Police have emphasized that the teenager appears to have acted alone.
The incident has prompted calls for a comprehensive review of security measures at secondary airports across Australia, particularly focusing on perimeter security, staff identification protocols, and boarding procedures.
This detailed account combines verified information about the Avalon Airport security breach, focusing on the factual events and official statements while highlighting the security concerns raised by this incident.
