Brawl in the air on Scoot

[RooFlyer]

There was discussion recently on a thread about the use of handcuffs/cable ties ... well, they got a use on a recent flight on Scoot. Sounds really nasty.

Scoot flight from Gold Coast to Singapore forced to land in Sydney due to passenger disruption

Probably payewalled, so:

Passengers who boarded a Scoot flight on the Gold Coast to fly to Singapore, ended up in Sydney after a passenger had a violent outburst and sparked a series of brawls with other passengers.

A Scoot spokeswoman confirmed the 787-9 was one hour and 20 minutes into the 8-hour flight and more than 30,000 feet high when the captain had to turn back to offload the disruptive passenger.


Radar image showing the Scoot flight's path.
It is understood the man began harassing passengers seated next to him after the plane had taken off.

The flight crew were told to relocate nearby passengers and stopped serving the man alcohol.

Video footage shows him punching multiple people including a child and restraining a man in a headlock.

“This bloke was going nuts trying to bite us, spitting on us and absolutely going berserk,” one passenger who helped restrain the man said.

The passenger was pinned down in the aisle for the rest of the journey by other passengers who cable-tied the man’s hands and feet together. He was then given an oxygen mask by flight staff in an attempt to calm him down.

 

[AisleSeat]

Video on Twitter

Im All News on Twitter

 

[Denali]

Video on Twitter

Im All News on Twitter

And to think, most AFFers miss out on seeing this stuff as its further back in the cabin.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Not much of a 'brawl'.

 

[eric2011]

Why would it over-fly BNE and OOL and go to SYD. AFP are stationed at these airports

 

[dajop]

Why would it over-fly BNE and OOL and go to SYD. AFP are stationed at these airports

It seems the flight didn’t continue after reaching SYD (crew hours?) and pax were offloaded at SYD and transferred to the evening Scoot flight or one of the SQ flights. It looks like plan was to return to OOL, but maybe someone made the decision that pax would be better accommodated on alternative flights at SYD ?

 

[RooFlyer]

Not much of a 'brawl'.

I assume your being factious. Did you see the continuation of the brawl in the video posted by AisleSeat, from about 1:15? Else, what would you 'like' to see in a fistfight in an aircraft to call it 'much of a brawl'? More than 3 guys throwing punches? Knuckle-dusters or knives? People being hit over the head with bottles?

 

[Denali]

I assume your being factious. Did you see the continuation of the brawl in the video posted by AisleSeat, from about 1:15? Else, what would you 'like' to see in a fistfight in an aircraft to call it 'much of a brawl'? More than 3 guys throwing punches? Knuckle-dusters or knives? People being hit over the head with bottles?

Pfft. To some, thats Christmas

 

[moa999]

From reports the flight was already 3 hrs delayed (which likely caused the alcohol consumption), so I suspect the crew may have been out of hours if they returned to OOL.

Returning to SYD they were able to switch pax to the afternoon and evening SQ and TR flights, minimising delays for passengers.

Suggestions that the pax in question was visibly intoxicated on boarding and should have been denied

 

[Rugby]

Note to self: pack mouthguard in carry on for next LCC flight.

 

[Dr Ralph]

I assume your being factious. Did you see the continuation of the brawl in the video posted by AisleSeat, from about 1:15? Else, what would you 'like' to see in a fistfight in an aircraft to call it 'much of a brawl'? More than 3 guys throwing punches? Knuckle-dusters or knives? People being hit over the head with bottles?

Walking stick and a knife appear relevant criteria according to the Illawarra Mercury

Albion Park all-in brawl captured on video

 

[Gold Member]

Flight originated from Gold Coast. Need I say more?

 

[snabbu]

Flight originated from Gold Coast. Need I say more?

When I heard the report on the news this morning it went like this...
"Cable ties used to subdue a man after a brawl erupted on an airplane. The flight departed the Gold Coast..."
Wow who would have guessed?

 

[Quickstatus]

AFP not taking the matter further.

 

[Dr Ralph]

AFP not taking the matter further.

Saw the same report.

Something clearly not being told about what happened.

 

[Gold Member]

AFP not taking the matter further.

Pfft, the reprimanded was probably GC Police Force or BFFs with someone high up.

The video clearly shows assault (among other crimes) for which the protagonists should be charged.

 

[Pushka]

It did look like there were two people fighting in the first clip. I wonder if ....

 

[Dr Ralph]

The video clearly shows assault (among other crimes) for which the protagonists should be charged.

Not necessarily.

Several plausible explanations:

1) Consensual
2) Provocation
3) Mental illness

As I said, clearly something not being said at this point.

But, from the general public's point of view, with further information not being released or available, Scoot have just sent a very clear message that you can do whatever you like without fear of any prosecution.

 

[Quickstatus]

Maybe I t’s because the AFP saw it as an altercation which in the end comes down to hearsay between fighting parties. Likely Scoot didn’t want to make a complaint as well?. Scoot would have said that at no time were passengers in danger. Hence it’s dversion to Sydney.

Alternatively maybe mental issues.

AFP has bigger issues to deal with.

 

[Gold Member]

Likely Scoot didn’t want to make a complaint as well?. Scoot would have said that at no time were passengers in danger.

Scoot staff did absolutely nothing as evidenced on Video, other than watch on in fear. It only takes one coward punch to kill someone. And here I was thinking (in fact told by all airlines every flight) that the FAs we’re responsible for our safety, first and foremost.

TR isn’t taking it further because they failed their basic duty to manage aircraft safety and may face legal/financial claims from those involved or even spectators disrupted by the flight change. It all comes down to $ for LCCs. And you get what you pay for, generally speaking.