A man whose drunken behaviour forced a Jetstar flight to turn around mid-air has been fined thousands of dollars to cover the cost of fuel dumped by the returning plane.
Wade Douglas Corbett, 34, appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Monday where he was fined $9,000 for disorderly conduct on Jetstar flight JQ 989 in September last year.
His antics forced the pilot to turn back an hour into the flight to Sydney, leaving 150 passengers stranded in Perth overnight.
Last week, Corbett pleaded guilty to one count of disorderly conduct on an aircraft and one count of failing to comply with safety instructions.
During the ill-fated flight, Corbett was denied further alcohol due to his intoxicated state before intimidating the cabin crew.
He then refused the pilot’s orders to fasten his seat belt before locking himself in the bathroom, from which he refused to emerge.
In order to land safely in Perth, the pilot was forced to jettison $20,000 worth of fuel.
Once back on the runway, airline staff contacted the Australian Federal Police to request assistance in escorting Corbett off the plane.
Wade Douglas Corbett, 34, was fined $9,000 in Perth Magistrates Court on Monday for being disruptive on Jetstar flight JQ 989 in September last year.
Corbett was ordered to pay more than $8,630 in fuel costs in addition to the $9,000 fine.
Acting Superintendent of Federal Police Shona Davis hopes the case will serve as a reminder “that criminal behaviour on board can come at a high cost to the offender”.
“It’s much easier to follow the instructions of airline staff than to cause unnecessary problems that can end up costing you,” he said.
‘AFP is committed to ensuring that all travellers have a safe journey from departure to arrival at their destination.’
Following a court appearance in September last year, Corbett laughingly apologized to passengers he had left stranded in court and began flexing his biceps for no apparent reason.
Corbett threatened Jetstar staff when they refused to serve him more alcohol and then locked himself in the toilets on a flight from Perth to Sydney last September.
Following an appearance in Perth Magistrates Court last September, Corbett was asked what he had to say to passengers upset by his antics.
He laughed and said, “I’m sorry guys.”
He then began flexing his biceps as reporters continued to demand answers.
Corbett had been flying to New South Wales on an unrelated court matter before he interrupted the flight.
(tags to translate)dailymail