Drunk granny punches fellow pax on Melbourne - Wellington flight
From News.com.au
A NEW Zealand woman is facing up to two years' jail for allegedly attacking a passenger on an international flight from Melbourne.
Frances Macaskill, 58, allegedly assaulted a man on Jetconnect's QF37 from Melbourne to Wellington on Saturday morning.
Jetconnect cabin crew allegedly had to restrain her and turn the aircraft back to Melbourne, an hour into the flight.
The man needed treatment from a doctor as a result of the incident.
Macaskill was taken off the aircraft by Australian Federal Police at Melbourne Airport and arrested.
AAP reports the incident inconvenienced Qantas to the tune of $19,760.
She is due to appear in Melbourne Magistrates' Court today on charges of assault, failure to follow instructions on an aircraft and offensive behavior on an aircraft.
The AFP said in a statement that the charges had maximum penalties of up to two years' jail or a $5500 fine.
AFP Assistant Commissioner Shane Connelly said this kind of behaviour was unacceptable.
"The AFP will not hesitate to charge anyone behaving in a manner that may interfere with the safe operation of an aircraft," he said.
"This kind of behaviour puts fellow passengers and cabin crew members at risk and will not be tolerated."
I'll lay money that she gets nowhere near the max in terms of prison sentence or the fine. No doubt there will be the usual pleas of mitigation by her lawyer.