Disturbing images have emerged of a naked man forcing a flight from Perth to Melbourne to turn around.
The “crazy” man was seen running down the plane’s aisle, trying to get to the cabin or the front door, before passengers on a Virgin flight grabbed him on Tuesday night.
Passenger Sterling Ellis recalled hearing the commotion just an hour into the trip.
“I looked up and someone was completely naked, they charged at one of the flight attendants and it looked like they had gone towards the door,” he said. Today On Wednesday.
‘Luckily, there was a gentleman in business class who was a big guy. He stood up and controlled the scene. Two others joined him.
“It was a pretty scary moment for a second… The mind can wander to the worst-case scenario and for a brief second I thought this was going to be very serious.”
A naked man was arrested (pictured) after forcing a Virgin flight from Perth to Melbourne to turn around on Tuesday night.
The “crazy man” reportedly tried to reach the cabin or the main door of the plane before passengers and flight attendants restrained him.
Another passenger described feeling uncomfortable as the man ran around the plane.
“A passenger suddenly went crazy running up and down the aisle and banging on the cabin door,” Melbourne radio station 3AW was told.
“Two air marshals had to restrain and handcuff the individual until the (flight) landed.”
The flight from Perth to Melbourne had already been delayed by 90 minutes before taking off at 7.20pm local time.
Some passengers opted to board a second flight to Melbourne about six hours after arriving in Perth, while others opted to wait until the next morning.
A Virgin spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia the flight “returned to Perth due to a problematic passenger on board.”
“On arrival in Perth, the aircraft was met by the Australian Federal Police and the disruptive guest was offloaded,” they said.
“The safety of our guests and crew is our top priority and we sincerely apologize to the affected guests.”
The spokesperson confirmed that the crew on board the plane took appropriate steps to minimize disruption and ensure the plane could land safely after it was diverted back to Perth Airport.
Australian Federal Police officers were called to the airport before the plane landed and are now understood to be investigating the matter.
Passenger Sterling Ellis (pictured) described the incident as “a pretty scary moment for a second.”
Virgin offered to put passengers on a second flight to Melbourne six hours after they landed back in Perth.
An AFP spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that officers arrested the man after he allegedly ran naked across the plane and knocked down a crew member.
“The man was taken to hospital for evaluation, where he remains,” the spokesperson said.
The man is due to appear at Perth Magistrates Court on June 14.
