A Jordanian man has been detained after reportedly trying to open two emergency exit doors and assaulting a flight crew member on a flight from Malaysia to Sydney.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) arrested 46-year-old Shadi Taisser Ayed Alsaaydeh after the AirAsia flight made a safe landing at Sydney Airport on Saturday evening. He was charged with endangering the safety of an aircraft and assaulting airline staff, ABC News reported.
Police said the ordeal started when Alsaaydeh, who was in a seat toward the back of the plane, tried to open an emergency exit latch. Once moved to another seat in the center of the aircraft, he was accused of trying to open another emergency door. When stopped by a flight attendant, Alsaaydeh is accused of physically attacking the crew member. Other passengers helped to restrain him until the plane landed.
In a hearing in court, his attorney explained that Alsaaydeh remembered nothing of the incident and had no previous criminal history. The attorney also explained that Alsaaydeh, an employee of the Jordanian government specializing in nuclear waste disposal, was on his way to have an official meeting in Sydney with six officials of the Australian government.
The court meeting, to be held on Monday, was going to be on the transport of nuclear materials within Jordan. The court refused to grant him bail, though, citing seriousness of the offenses in question and the possible threat to public safety that he may have posed.
Alsaaydeh will next appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday.
AirAsia, in a statement to The Guardian, confirmed the incident and commended its crew for professionalism. “At no time was the safety of guests or crew compromised,” said the airline, which repeated its zero-tolerance policy towards inappropriate onboard behavior.
