{"id":675920,"date":"2026-05-17T02:56:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-17T02:56:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/675920\/"},"modified":"2026-05-17T02:56:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-17T02:56:11","slug":"qantas-flight-from-melbourne-bound-for-usa-diverted-after-passenger-reportedly-bites-crew-member","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/675920\/","title":{"rendered":"Qantas flight from Melbourne bound for USA diverted after passenger reportedly bites crew member"},"content":{"rendered":"

A man has been banned from all Qantas<\/a> flights after allegedly biting a crew member on a flight<\/a> from Melbourne<\/a> to the United States, forcing it to divert to Tahiti.<\/p>\n

\ufeffThe plane was forced to land in Papeete, Tahiti, where local authorities came on board the aircraft and arrested the passenger.<\/p>\n

The plane was refuelled and able to complete its journey to Dallas, while the passenger has been banned from all Qantas Group flights, which includes Jetstar.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe flight, bound for Dallas in the United States, was forced to divert in Papeete in Tahiti. (X\/AirNavRadar)Parts of the incident was caught on camera by comedian Mike Goldstein, who was on the flight to Dallas-Fort Worth and shared a video on Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n

His video showed the passenger emerging from one of the bathrooms and arguing with flight attendants about his behaviour.\ufeff<\/p>\n

The passenger was stumbling, slurring his words, and repeatedly swore at crew members and other passengers.<\/p>\n

“There’s kids around everywhere and you’re acting immature,” one flight attendant told the passenger.<\/p>\n

“You have to behave yourself, you’re on a plane.”<\/p>\n

The passenger expressed some confusion at the fact he was on a plane, and asked one flight attendant if he was “smoking any weed”.<\/p>\n

“I was just about to walk out for a cigarette,” the passenger said.<\/p>\n

\"QantasThe passenger has been banned from all Qantas flights. (Supplied)<\/p>\n

Goldstein’s video shows the passenger getting more aggressive when he is told to go to the back of the plane.<\/p>\n

According to a post on X<\/a> by \ufeffAir Nav Radar, it was reported that the passenger bit a crew member, though this has not been confirmed by the airline or by authorities.<\/p>\n

“The safety of our customers and our crew is our number one priority,” a Qantas spokesperson told 9News.com.au.<\/p>\n

“We have zero tolerance for disruptive or threatening behaviour on our flights.”<\/p>\n

The Australian Federal Police have been contacted for comment.\ufeff<\/p>\n

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