Tensions high as argument about Israel-Hamas conflict leads to Jetstar flight abandonment

Chiba, Japan - December 19, 2020:Jetstar Japan Airbus A320-200 (JA19JJ) passenger plane.
Edited by Travel Weekly


    Dramatic scenes have erupted onboard a Jetstar flight after the AFP were called to perform a welfare check on an unruly customer as an argument triggered by the Israel-Hamas conflict led to all passengers having to disembark the flight.

    JQ501 was scheduled to leave Sydney at 6:20 a.m. on Tuesday morning, however was delayed until 8:45 after the plane was forced to return to the gate prior to take off when a male passenger demanded a seat change.

    As AFP arrived to conduct the welfare check an argument involving another passenger kicked off with the fellow passenger reportedly telling the unruly fellow passenger to, “Get over yourself – there’s a war in Palestine.”

    Speaking on Channel 9’s ‘Today Show’ this morning, fellow passenger Scherri Simpson said, “I was quite concerned, you don’t expect this on a domestic flight in Australia.”

    “I travel quite a lot. It’s a bit scary – 9/11 just pops into your head straight away when you see passengers disembarking, and things not being normal.”

    It is understood that following the welfare check the AFP were happy for the man to remain onboard the flight, however he decided to disembark the plane.

    Another passenger told 2GB radio, “Because they were talking about the war it made us all very nervous.”

    All passengers on the flight were made to disembark for operational reasons before the flight eventually took off for Melbourne around 8:45 a.m.

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