Brisbane Man Charged Over Bomb Threat on Flight

Before takeoff, he allegedly spoke on his mobile phone and referenced a bomb.

Huge queues are seen at the Virgin and Jetstar domestic departure terminal at Sydney Domestic Airport in Sydney, Australia, on April 8, 2022. AAP Image/Dean Lewins

A 44-year-old Brisbane man is set to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on March 5, charged with making a threatening statement onboard an aircraft and travelling under a false identity.

Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers at Sydney Airport responded to the incident on Jan. 14 when the man boarded a flight to Brisbane.

Before takeoff, he allegedly spoke on his mobile phone and referenced a bomb.

Authorities escorted him off the plane, later discovering he had used a fake identity to book his ticket.

A search of the aircraft found no security threat. The man was issued a court attendance notice the same day, facing charges of obtaining a ticket under false identity and making threats to aviation security.

The offences carry a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $16,500 (US$10,300) fine.

AFP Detective Superintendent Morgen Blunden stressed that threats to aviation security, whether direct or overheard, would not be tolerated.

“Travelling on an aircraft should be a safe experience for passengers and airline crew alike,” he said. “The AFP will continue working with airline partners to address any behaviour that compromises aviation security.”

Surge in Airport Incidents Over Holiday Season

The case comes amid a sharp rise in disruptive behaviour at Australian airports.

Between December 2024 and January 2025, AFP officers responded to 4,205 incidents at major airports, leading to 93 individuals being charged with 132 offences.

Nearly half of these offences involved assaults or damage to property. One serious case at Perth Airport saw a 34-year-old woman allegedly attack two AFP officers, leaving one with facial and neck injuries requiring hospital treatment.

In January, a 38-year-old man on a Singapore Airlines flight allegedly pushed a female crew member mid-flight. He was arrested in Melbourne and given a two-year good behaviour order without conviction.

In comparison, the AFP charged 49 travellers during the same holiday period in 2023, highlighting a significant increase in unruly conduct.

Rising Passenger Numbers Linked to Growing Chaos

The spike in incidents aligns with record-high passenger numbers. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that December 2024 saw 1.85 million arrivals—an 8.7 percent increase from the previous year—while departures rose by 11.6 percent to 2.26 million.

AFP Aviation Commander Craig Bellis said airports were handling more travellers than ever, with 134 million passengers passing through Australian terminals in the 2023–24 financial year.

“We only expect numbers to continue increasing,” Bellis said, adding that authorities had zero tolerance for disruptive behaviour.

“Travelling through our airports should be a safe experience, which is why the AFP and its government and industry partners work closely to prevent, disrupt, and respond to security and criminal threats.”