Plane passenger charged over alleged bomb threat
A Brisbane man is scheduled to appear in Downing Centre Local Court today (5 March, 2025), charged with allegedly making a threatening statement while onboard an aircraft, and travelling under a false name.
AFP officers at Sydney Airport responded to an incident on 14 January, 2025, when the man, 44, boarded a flight to Brisbane. Before take-off, it’s alleged he was speaking on a mobile phone and made reference to a bomb.
Officers escorted the man off the plane before discovering he was travelling under a fake name. Following a search of the aircraft, it was determined there was no bomb threat.
He was served a court attendance notice that day for the offences of:
- One count of taking a constitutional flight with a ticket obtained with false identity information, contrary to section 376.4(2) of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
- One count of threatening aviation security, contrary to section 9.01(1) of the Aviation Transport Security Regulations 2005 (Cth).
The maximum penalty for these offences, respectively, is one year imprisonment and a $16,500 fine.
AFP Detective Superintendent Morgen Blunden said the AFP would not tolerate threats to aviation security – overt or overheard.
“Travelling on an aircraft should be a safe experience for passengers and airline crew alike,” Det Supt Blunden said.
“The AFP will continue to work closely with airline partners to deal with any behaviour that interferes with aviation security.”
To report an incident, or provide information, call the AFP’s Airport Watch on 131 AFP (131 237).