There’s an unwritten etiquette about reclining seats – but maybe it’s time it’s was actually written, at least for two passengers on Jetstar flight JQ33 from Phuket to Sydney on Wednesday this week (October 5).
Apparently these passengers, a 27-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman, as far as we know previously unknown to each other, got into a tussle when the woman reclined her seat during the flight.
A passenger on the flight, Scott Haywood, has given listeners a run-down on Sydney radio station 2GB about what went down. And both Jetstar and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) have confirmed that an incident occurred, which resulted in two passengers being met at Sydney airport and escorted off the plane.
“One of the passengers was distressed as another lady put her seat back on his mother,” Scott said. He then claimed there was some seat whacking and then the woman “laid a punch” on the man.
“He then got up and laid a couple more on her,” Scott said. He and another passenger then got up to hold the man back and then staff intervened. The report said the passengers were then moved out of business class.
The Sydney Morning Herald spoke to Jetstar and got this statement from a spokesperson. “Our crew onboard acted quickly and the customers were separated for the remainder of the flight,” the spokesman said.
“We don’t tolerate disruptive behaviour by passengers on our flights. We will conduct a review with a view to banning these passengers travelling with us in the future.
“We appreciate customers’ acknowledgement of the professionalism of our crew.”
The AFP confirmed it responded to a request for assistance from an airline at Sydney Airport on Wednesday.
“Investigations remain ongoing and as such, it would not be appropriate to comment further.”
