When we think of air travel, we often picture the excitement of jetting off to new destinations or the convenience of quickly reaching far-off family and friends.

However, for passengers aboard Jetstar flight JQ964, their journey from Brisbane to Perth took an unexpected and unsettling detour, leading to a shocking turnaround that left everyone involved shaken.



The flight, which was supposed to be a routine domestic trip across Australia, was abruptly interrupted by the actions of a disruptive passenger.

This individual's behaviour was so concerning that it forced the aircraft to return to Brisbane, landing at 11:30 pm., four hours after it took off.

The incident not only caused inconvenience and distress to fellow travelers but also led to serious consequences for the man responsible.


According to reports, a 38-year-old man from North Queensland became disorderly on the flight, prompting the crew to take decisive action.

An Australian Federal Police spokesperson revealed that the man was charged with one count of offensive or disorderly behaviour on an aircraft.

His actions were serious enough to warrant a no-fly ban, effectively grounding him from future Jetstar flights into Brisbane.

The situation escalated when the man, who allegedly smelled of alcohol, began to threaten a flight attendant.



A mother travelling with her two children recounted the tense moments, describing how the flight attendant appeared visibly distressed and upset.

‘An air hostess mentioned that he had been threatening…we don’t know exactly what he was saying, but the air hostess was speaking to a passenger in front of us, and she was quite distressed and upset,’ she said.

‘(They said) there’s this bloke, and he is walking up and down the aisle…he followed the air hostess at one stage, walking up and down with her.’

She described the flight attendant as appearing emotional and upset while the male passenger, reeking of alcohol, reportedly continued to follow the young crew member.



‘Another passenger also got into an altercation with him and was trying to settle him down but he wasn’t listening to him either,’ she added.

The decision to turn back was not taken lightly, as evidenced by Flightradar24 footage showing the plane's significant detour.

Upon landing, the man was promptly met by AFP officers and escorted off the plane.

The man was released on police bail and is set to face the Brisbane Magistrates Court on 20 January 2025.

A Jetstar spokesperson said the airline will ‘never tolerate disruptive behaviour on our aircraft as safety is our number one priority’.

‘We really appreciate customers’ understanding and patience while our crew managed the situation in the air, and once back in Brisbane, worked to get them on their way again,’ they said.



Despite the chaos, Jetstar's handling of the incident earned praise from passengers, including the mother who witnessed the ordeal.

The airline's efficient coordination in providing overnight accommodation and arranging a new flight the following morning demonstrated their dedication to customer service in the face of adversity.

‘I have to give credit to Jetstar…they were really good at getting us straight off the plane and sorting accommodation, buses and a new rescue flight,’ the mother said.

‘It was a few hours of some full freak-out moments.’



In a similar story, a Qantas flight bound for Adelaide caused trouble mid-flight and was forced to make an emergency landing at Brisbane.

Passengers were told to brace for impact on landing, and the plane landed safely with emergency services on standby.
Have you ever experienced a similar situation on a flight? How do you think airlines should handle disruptive passengers? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.