A New Zealand man was sentenced this week for a drunken assault on two airline staff on a flight between Perth and Auckland last year.
His misbehaviour caused the flight to be diverted to Melbourne.
The 23-year-old man was sentenced by the County Court of Victoria to six months' imprisonment to be released immediately on a two-year good behaviour bond. He was also ordered to pay the airline NZ$11,830 in compensation.
Australian Federal Police charged the man on October 23 last year after responding to reports of an intoxicated and disruptive passenger on a flight from Perth to Auckland.
The man refused to comply with requests from two crew and assaulted both of them, causing minor injuries.
The plane was diverted to Melbourne to allow officers to board and remove the passenger who had been restrained at the back of the aircraft.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting crew of an aircraft.
AFP detective superintendent Stephen Cook said airline staff deserved to feel safe in their workplace and not be subjected to violence and aggression from passengers.
"Anti-social behaviour during a flight can pose a direct threat to the safety of the aircraft and, in this instance, also inconvenience passengers onboard.
"The AFP works closely with the airline industry to intervene if anyone’s behaviour interferes with the safety of workers or the public in or around an airport, or on flights."
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