A 64-year-old Italian-Australian woman has been charged with assault in the wake of her bringing her own wine onboard a flight to Sydney.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) Superintendent Dom Stephenson said the dual citizen had been charged with four offences, including the alleged assault of an airline crew member during an international flight.
Superintendent Stephenson said the woman allegedly consumed a bottle of her own wine on a flight from Noumea, New Caledonia, to Sydney on June 3.
“When airline crew told the woman she could not consume her own alcohol, she allegedly became verbally abusive and disruptive,” he said.
Superintendent Stephenson said after the woman allegedly refused instructions to sit down during the aircraft’s descent, airline crew attempted to physically restrain her to a seat.
“The AFP will allege the woman kicked an airline crew member in the stomach and continued to engage in antisocial behaviour.”
He said she was charged with one count of assaulting a crew member of Division 3 aircraft, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years and one count each for offensive and disorderly behaviour on an aircraft, failing to comply with safety instructions by cabin crew, and consuming alcohol not provided by crew, which carry a maximum penalty of a $16,500 fine.
“The AFP had zero tolerance for disruptive or antisocial behaviour onboard aircraft or in airports.
“All passengers and airline staff have the right to feel safe and should not have to witness intoxication, violence or bad behaviour, particularly when they’re in a confined space in the air,” he said.
