Passenger forced to pay thousands for fuel after his behavior caused plane to turn around
A passenger flying across Australia has been forced to pay thousands of dollars after his bad behavior caused the plane to turn around.
Wade Corbett, 34, was one of more than 150 passengers on board the Jetstar flight which was traveling from Perth to Sydney when the incident took place last September.
During the journey, Corbett was accused of refusing to fasten his seatbelt when asked, and when approached by the pilot he locked himself in a toilet and refused to leave.
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Corbett also allegedly demonstrated intimidating behavior towards cabin staff when he was refused more alcohol on board.
His disruptions forced the pilot of the plane to divert it back to Perth, but he couldn't land safely before dumping more than $13,330 ($20,000 AUD) in fuel.
Once back on land, the crew called the Australian Federal Police for assistance and Corbett was arrested and charged.
Meanwhile, the remaining passengers were left stranded overnight.
During an appearance at Perth Magistrates Court last September, Corbett was asked if he had anything to say to the passengers who had been left stranded by his behavior.
In response, Corbett laughed and simply said: "Sorry guys."
Almost one year on, Corbett appeared in court and pleaded guilty to one count of disorderly behavior on an aircraft and one count of failure to comply with safety instructions.
As a result of his actions, Corbett was ordered to pay more than $5,750 ($8,630 AUD) in fuel costs, as well as a fine of $6,000 ($9,000 AUD) by Perth Magistrates Court.
Federal Police Acting Superintendent Shona Davis condemned Corbett's actions as she gave a statement outside the court, saying his fines should serve as a warning 'that criminal behavior on board can come at a heavy cost to the offender'.
“It’s far simpler to obey the directions of airline staff than cause unnecessary issues, which can end up hitting you in the hip pocket,” she said, per The West Australian.
“The AFP is committed to ensuring all travellers have a safe journey from their departure through to their arrival at their destination.”
Dumping fuel is a common procedure for planes which depart the airport with a weight which is above the maximum landing weight.
During a normal flight, the fuel burned during the journey is sufficient to reduce the weight of the plane and make it safe for landing without damage.
However, since Corbett's plane was unable to make it to its destination, the pilot had to dump the fuel to ensure the aircraft was light enough to land.
Emily Brown