A Jetstar flight from Bali to Melbourne made a terrifying U-turn this week when a passenger attempted to open the emergency exit mid-flight. The incident occurred about two hours after takeoff, shocking the 260 passengers on board. According to witnesses, the disruptive passenger—a woman seated near the rear of the plane—became angry after arguing with crew members over her seat.
Australian reality TV star Brooke Jowett, who was on the flight, shared details online. The woman, apparently upset that she couldn’t recline her seat, suddenly rushed toward the emergency door and pulled the handle. An alarm immediately alerted the cockpit crew, and the pilot announced they would return to Bali. Fortunately, an off-duty police officer on board intervened, restraining the woman before she could fully open the door.
Jowett described the panic that followed. *”We were over the ocean when it happened, and suddenly everyone was told to fasten their seatbelts immediately,”* she said. *”It was really scary, but thank goodness that officer was there.”*
Once the plane landed back in Bali, authorities arrested the passenger. Jetstar confirmed she has been banned from flying with the airline in the future. *”Safety is our top priority, and this kind of behavior will never be tolerated,”* the airline stated.
While it’s nearly impossible to actually open an airplane door mid-flight due to cabin pressure, tampering with it can still trigger alarms and cause chaos. This incident is part of a troubling trend of unruly passenger behavior on flights worldwide, prompting airlines to take stricter measures.
Air travel remains one of the safest ways to travel, but this event serves as a reminder of why following crew instructions and staying calm in emergencies is crucial. Thanks to the quick actions of the pilot and the off-duty officer, a potential disaster was avoided. Would you feel safe flying after an incident like this?
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