‘The plane will crash – everyone will die’: Drunk Jetstar passenger hurls abuse at travellers and air crew before HEADBUTTING a cop and punching another officer – but he avoids jail
- Ian Rodrigo, 27, had been on a Sydney Jetstar flight bound for Melbourne
- He boarded the plane drunk and began hurling abuse at passengers and staff
- Five Australian Federal Police officers were called after staff asked him to exit
- Rodrigo then headbutted a police officer before he punched another
- He has been let off with a good behaviour bond, a $500 fine and drinking ban
- Rodrigo has been banned from ever flying another Jetstar or Qantas flight
A drunk man who yelled at passengers and air crew before headbutting a police officer and punching another on board a Jetstar flight has avoided jail.
Ira Rodrigo, 27, had been on a Sydney flight bound for Melbourne before take-off when he yelled: ‘It’s going to crash… everyone will be killed.’
His aggressive behaviour escalated when five Australian Federal Police officers stormed the plane and tried to remove him.
Ira Rodrigo, 27, had been on a Sydney flight bound for Melbourne when he frightened passengers as he yelled: ‘It’s going to crash … everyone will be killed.’
The man from Newtown, in Sydney’s inner-west, faced Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday where he was let off with a good behaviour bond, 9News reported.
Rodrigo was also given a $500 fine, a drinking ban and can no longer fly on a Jetstar or Qantas plane.
He had been charged with multiple offences, including assaulting and resisting police.
The court heard Rodrigo was intoxicated before he boarded the aircraft, where he hurled abuse at passengers and staff.
The wild brawl between Rodrigo and police officers was captured on camera in May.
He tried to grab a taser from one police officer, before head-butting another.
Rodrigo then punched another officer, as frightened passengers were heard gasping.
Two officers were believed to have been injured in the incident.
He immediately apologised for his behaviour after the incident and said he had experienced a PTSD episode.
The court took into account his PTSD and his bipolar and he was not given a jail sentence.
‘You can imagine how much worse this would have been in the air … there was distress among passengers and crew,’ Magistrate Atkinson said.
His aggressive behaviour escalated before the plane had taken off and five Australian Federal Police officers were called after staff told him to exit the plane
The court heard Rodrigo was intoxicated before he boarded the aircraft, where he hurled abuse at passengers and staff
A spokesperson for AFP in May confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that officers responded to a request for assistance at Terminal 2 in Sydney airport .
‘A 26-year-old male passenger on board a flight to Melbourne allegedly became disruptive. AFP officers attended and removed the passenger from the plane,’ the spokesperson said.
‘In the course of the man being removed from the flight, he allegedly assaulted two officers. Neither required medical treatment.’
A spokesperson for Jetstar in May said the airline would not tolerate this type of behaviour.
‘A passenger boarding a Jetstar flight in Sydney became disruptive and abusive prior to take off,’ they told Daily Mail Australia.
‘Our crew attempted to calm the passenger however after the man’s behaviour continued the crew contacted the AFP and the passenger was escorted off the flight.
‘We take safety and security very seriously and this type of behaviour will not be tolerated on our aircraft.’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Qantas and Jetstar for further comment.
The man from Newtown, in Sydney’s inner-west, faced Downing Centre Local Court where he was let off with a good behaviour bond (stock image)