<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>339773</docID> <postdate>2025-03-07 08:43:01</postdate> <headline>Airport reopens, boy charged after plane confrontation</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-339774" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250306141841164443-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="507" /></p> <caption>A teenager has been charged after a passenger allegedly tried to board a plane with a shotgun. (7news/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>William Ton</strong> in Melbourne</span></p> <p><strong>Avalon Airport has reopened with flights operating as normal after a boy allegedly tried to force his way on to a plane with a firearm before being overpowered by passengers.</strong></p> <p>Police were called to the airport near Geelong, in Victoria, on Thursday afternoon following reports a male wielding a firearm attempted to board the Jetstar flight.</p> <p>Victoria Police Superintendent Michael Reid told reporters the 17-year-old from Ballarat allegedly climbed through a hole in the airport's security fence before making his way on foot to the plane.</p> <p>The Sydney-bound flight was carrying about 150 people at the time and no one was hurt during the incident.</p> <p>The teen has been charged with multiple offences including unlawfully taking control of an aircraft, orchestrating a bomb hoax and possessing a firearm.</p> <p>He was remanded in custody to appear in a children's court on a date to be determined.</p> <p>Avalon Airport has fully reopened with all flights operating as normal on Friday morning.</p> <p>The airport's chief executive Ari Suss said the organisation was working with Victoria Police.</p> <p>"As part of our ongoing commitment to security, we have implemented further measures across the airport, including within the terminal and surrounding areas," Mr Suss said in a statement.</p> <p>"We continue to work closely with authorities to maintain a safe and secure environment for all travellers."</p> <p>The probe is being carried out by crime squad investigators with no involvement from the force's counter terrorism unit.</p> <p>The teen allegedly tried to climb the front stairs into the plane cabin but was noticed by passengers and subsequently overpowered by three civilians, Supt Reid said.</p> <p>"This would have been a very terrifying incident for the passengers of that plane and Victoria Police really commend the bravery of those passengers who were able to overpower that male," he said.</p> <p>Passenger Barry Clark tackled the man who was dressed as a maintenance worker when he became agitated while speaking to the flight attendant.</p> <p>"Before we knew it, a shotgun appeared and I was worried about it being shot, so all I could do was push her out of the way, get the gun out of the way, break that gun and throw it down the stairs, and then put him in a hold, throw him to the ground until the police came," Mr Clark told ABC Radio Melbourne.</p> <p>"I didn't want to see that poor girl get shot, do you just gotta do what you gotta do."</p> <p>Jetstar said it was working with police and the airport to understand what happened.</p> </body>