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- By Shivangi Sharma
- Tue, 01 Apr 2025 11:33 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
A Jetstar flight from Bali, Indonesia, to Melbourne, Australia, was forced to return to Denpasar Airport after a passenger attempted to open the aircraft’s door mid-flight. The incident occurred on Monday, March 31, more than an hour into the journey over the Indian Ocean, prompting an emergency response from the flight crew.
According to Jetstar, the aircraft, carrying approximately 200 passengers, took off from Denpasar Airport as scheduled but had to divert back after the passenger displayed aggressive and dangerous behaviour. In a statement to PEOPLE, the airline confirmed, “We had an aircraft return to Denpasar last night after a disruptive passenger attempted to open one of the aircraft doors and was abusive to our crew.”
Flight tracking data from FlightRadar24 indicates that the plane departed at 8:20 pm local time before it was diverted back due to the escalating situation. The disruptive passenger, for reasons unknown, attempted to force open the plane’s door while it was flying at a high altitude over the ocean. Though commercial aircraft doors are designed to remain locked and are impossible to open mid-flight due to cabin pressure, the attempt caused immediate concern among the crew and passengers.
As a result, the captain made the decision to return to Bali, where local authorities could handle the situation. The passenger in question was removed from the aircraft upon landing and reportedly continued to display aggressive behavior toward the crew and security personnel during detention.
Flight Forced To Turn Back
Australian TV host Jacqueline Felgate, who was on board, shared her experience on Instagram, including a video capturing the captain’s announcement. “Earlier tonight, there was a lady down back at the aircraft that tried to physically open the door. She lifted the handle … we got a door warning in the front of the aircraft,” the captain explained. He further stated, “For the safety of the aircraft, the possibility of the door opening also in flight … we don’t know why [this happened] but unfortunately the safest course of action is to … return to land.”
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The incident caused delays for all passengers, with Jetstar working to rebook those affected. While the motive behind the passenger’s actions remains unclear, the event highlights the ongoing challenges airlines face in managing in-flight security and ensuring passenger safety. Authorities are expected to investigate the incident further and determine if charges will be filed against the disruptive traveler.