A plane in Australia was forced to turn back after a fight broke out among passengers. After several hours it took off again, and there was another fight, reports say.
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- A plane was forced to turn round after fighting broke out on board, News.com.au reported.
- After the plane set off again, another incident allegedly occurred, per the outlet.
- Four people were charged in total and a window was smashed, News.com.au reported.
Fights allegedly broke out on an Australian domestic flight last week that ultimately led to the plane being turned round, a window getting smashed, and four passengers being charged, News.com.au reported.
In a video purportedly showing the first of two alleged incidents that happened on the flight, a group of passengers are shown fighting, with one appearing to throw a bottle. The flight from Cairns, Queensland, to Groote Eylandt, a small island off the northeast coast of Northern Territory, was operated by Australian airline Alliance Airlines, according to flight records.
A spokesperson for the Australian Federal Police told News.com.au that the flight had to be turned around because of an "incident." Records on flight-tracking site FlightAware show that the flight was diverted and landed back in Cairns around an hour after it originally departed.
"A female passenger was removed and charged with disorderly behaviour on an aircraft, common assault and failing to comply with safety instructions by cabin crew," the AFP spokesperson told News.com.au.
The plane ultimately set off again to Cairns a few hours later, FlightAware data shows.
But the same group of passengers allegedly started fighting again, leading to a window getting smashed, News.com.au reported. Three passengers were arrested and charged when the plane landed on Groote Eylandt, the outlet reported. The charges varied between the people, but all three were charged with disorderly behaviour in a public place, per the report.
NT News reported that Groote Eylandt Mining Company, which had chartered the flight and operates the airport, had posted a security guard at the check-in desks and boarding gate following the alleged incidents.
"Abusive, discriminatory or threatening behaviour towards any individual, including airline crew, will not be tolerated," the company told NT News.
It said that Alliance Airlines had paused new online public ticket sales and that it was reviewing safety process together with the airline, Cairns Airport, the police, and the Anindilyakwa Land Council.
Though the flight was chartered by Groote Eylandt Mining Company, Insider understands that the passengers involved in the incident were members of the public.