Armed Teenager Arrested After Attempting to Board Flight in Australia

Passengers and crew intervene to detain a teenager with a shotgun at Avalon Airport; authorities confirm no injuries occurred.

A harrowing incident unfolded at Avalon Airport in Australia on Thursday when a 17-year-old boy, armed with a shotgun, attempted to board Jetstar Flight 610, which was scheduled to take off for Sydney with nearly 150 passengers on board. Authorities reported that the incident raised alarms, prompting Victoria Police to arrive at around 2:20 p.m. local time.

The teenager, whose name has not been disclosed, became agitated when crew members questioned him as he entered the aircraft. Witnesses described a sudden escalation from verbal conflict to the sight of the shotgun, which prompted immediate action from other passengers. Barry Clark, a sheep shearer en route to a football match, recounted how he sprang into action to help restrain the gunman. He successfully subdued the youth by leveraging holds that incapacitated him.

As police secured the area and took the teen into custody, they located two bags and a vehicle associated with him. For safety measures, authorities deployed the bomb response unit to investigate the bags as a precautionary step, but ultimately, there were no injuries reported among the passengers and crew during this alarming encounter.