Jetstar Avalon Security Incident

[nomess]

You would be surprised how few eyes are on the airfield at some places that have RPT these days. Be it CTAF, reduced fire service, no aro or limited hours, and a ground crew who operate with next to no staff, isn’t many people around. AFP have been cut in many places with many now using local police forces.

People keep asking ‘where is the security’. Well often there simply is none or they are too busy watching the carpark to ensure people are not freeloading in the drop off areas.

[TimmyTee]

Originally Posted by LOWI

Politics aside (thread drift from quite a number of users in this thread),

This is a very serious security threat and quite a new method of breaching of the security perimeter. Many airports around the world will need to learn from this now and secure the perimeter even more.

If this guy was more direct and started shooting the sitting duck passengers from the moment he came onboard, this could have been the worse Australian aviation disaster in recent times.

Here's a question to all flight crew on here: It's you sitting up the front there, almost certainly there is no Barry boarding behind him, 50kg flightie freezes with fear, he walks into flight deck, closes door and dead bolts (according to reports today, he was on his way to the flight deck under guise of "I'm an engineer with something for the pilots).

So door is closed and locked, shotgun pulled and aimed at skipper, and he says "take off or he gets it".
Unless you REALLY back your backward-hand pen skills, what happens next?

In all honesty, this was so close to happening - so it's a bit scary thinking about what you'd realistically do next when he says "order flighties to close the doors, take off now"..

[runway16]

So how come this guy had a car at age 17?
How did he got a hold of a shotgun?

Questions.

I suppose that now we will see increased security actions in particular in particular in GA.

So some rabbit with a shot gun trying to take over an airline flight will affect GA be it at the likes of the secondary airport and maybe even the country airports !

Congratulations !

[Skillsy]

Surely the fence is the initial deterrent to ramblers, AV geeks and wildlife. The second and third levels should be more automated triggering a response and shutdown. CASA have a lot of work to do get a modicum of security at ports like these

[The Love Doctor]

Originally Posted by TimmyTee

So door is closed and locked, shotgun pulled and aimed at skipper, and he says "take off or he gets it".
Unless you REALLY back your backward-hand pen skills, what happens next?.

Go along with it until the moment is right then then go full scale on the twit. I back my backward hands pen skills so should every flight crew member

[layman]

Genuine question:
With Avalon being privately owned, who is responsible for perimeter security?
I'm guessing 'barrier' security management might be different to 'organic' security which might be different to terminal security etc
Thanks in advance

[Lookleft]

I find it difficult to accept that this wasn't a planned event. How does a 17 yo have the knowledge to know a) where to find a convenient hole in the fence at short notice b) that wearing hi-vis clothing will get him unchallenged access to the aircraft and c) wearing a tool belt will enhance his cover story? It was fortunate that at a small crew base like Avalon a new face will create questions as usually the cc and engineers are well known to each other.

closes door and dead bolts

Your scenario is already flawed with that statement.

[Lead Balloon]

Originally Posted by Skillsy

Surely the fence is the initial deterrent to ramblers, AV geeks and wildlife. The second and third levels should be more automated triggering a response and shutdown. CASA have a lot of work to do get a modicum of security at ports like these

It’s nothing to do with CASA.

[nomess]

Originally Posted by layman

Genuine question:
With Avalon being privately owned, who is responsible for perimeter security?
I'm guessing 'barrier' security management might be different to 'organic' security which might be different to terminal security etc
Thanks in advance

Government provides the standards, not the funding. Which is why many smaller regional airports cannot justify tens of millions for a new fence.

They can apply for grants etc, however the cost to install what would be essentially a secure fence, like the new perimeter fence seen on the west side at Tullamarine, is likely beyond any grant.

It appears Avalon lies in a very safe seat, ironically the Minister for Defence, so unlikely to see any cash thrown about.

[TimmyTee]

Originally Posted by Lookleft

Your scenario is already flawed with that statement.

How so? Are you saying aircraft don't have the ability to lock the flight deck door from inside the cockpit, denying entry to anyone in the cabin?

[das Uber Soldat]

Originally Posted by TimmyTee

So door is closed and locked, shotgun pulled and aimed at skipper, and he says "take off or he gets it".

If you takeoff, you're dead anyway. Except everyone else dies too. All you can do is fight him on the ground. A long gun would be difficult to wield in a 320 cockpit and there are two of you. Whatever the end result, the plane isn't leaving the ground.

[MickG0105]

Originally Posted by nomess

Government provides the standards, not the funding. Which is why many smaller regional airports cannot justify tens of millions for a new fence.
​​​​​​...

The Regional Airports Program that was the subject of a separate thread makes funding available for, inter alia, airport security fencing and gates. Over the years, a couple of regional airports have accessed that program for funding specifically for that purpose.

And on the plus side, one of the widely available commercial skillsets in regional Australia is fencing.

[clark y]

The scenario outlined above reminded me of Clint Eastwood’s movie Magnum Force.

[Lookleft]

How so? Are you saying aircraft don't have the ability to lock the flight deck door from inside the cockpit, denying entry to anyone in the cabin?

I'm not going to go into the details of how the cockpit door works but these were your words

​​​​​​​walks into flight deck, closes door and dead bolts

So clearly you have NFI how the door works.

[C441]

Apparently Bazza was on his way up to Sydney to watch the Swans take on Hawthorn.
He popped into the Swans rooms pre-game but that was not enough motivation for the Bloods to whip the Hawks.

[das Uber Soldat]

Originally Posted by Lookleft

So clearly you have NFI how the door works.

You're genuinely making me worry I don't know the door works either, and I'm pretty sure we work for the same company haha

[AnotherFSO]

"Large regional airports will need to conduct urgent risk assessments under a directive by the home affairs minister, in the aftermath of an alleged gunman’s attempt to board a Jetstar flight.

Tony Burke ordered his department to write to the airports after the incident at Avalon Airport near Geelong on Thursday afternoon, in which a 17-year-old allegedly boarded the plane armed with a long-arm firearm and ammunition and claimed, “I’ve got bombs in my bag.”

The directive applies to Avalon, Newcastle, Hobart, Launceston, Sunshine Coast, Alice Springs, Townsville, Mackay and Rockhampton airports."
...

From: https://www.smh.com.au/national/vict...09-p5li6c.html

[Lead Balloon]

Risk: Anyone with more than 2 brain cells and a modicum of dedication can get just about any where airside they like, just about any time they like, at any 'security controlled' aerodrome.

[Centaurus]

Originally Posted by das Uber Soldat

If you takeoff, you're dead anyway. Except everyone else dies too. All you can do is fight him on the ground. A long gun would be difficult to wield in a 320 cockpit and there are two of you. Whatever the end result, the plane isn't leaving the ground.

Circa 1987 there was a similar event with an Air Nauru 737 in Tarawa, Kiribati. The aircraft had landed and taxied to the terminal. When the airstairs were lowered a local Kiribati man ran up the stairs, knocked the hostie aside, entered the flight deck and lashed out with his fists at the captain and F/O both of whom still had their harnesses on. The captain received a gash to his head but both were helpless to react due being in their seats and tied in as it were.

Outside the aircraft were company staff and health officer ready to spray cabin. A passenger in the front row of seats leapt up and grabbed the assailant from behind and pulled him to the floor. By now the F/O undid his harness and left the cockpit and together with the passenger managed to throw the assailant down the air stairs where he was led away without a struggle by airline staff. The captain then made a PA saying "Ladies and gentlemen - we apologise for the incident as this is not the normal standard of our inflight entertainment."

Subsequent investigation revealed the attacker had a hut where he lived among the palm trees adjoing the flight strip at the end of the runway. On several occasions when the 737 did a 180 while lining up for take off, the jet blast had blown away the palm tree roof of his hut.. He was heartily pissed off about this and decided to sort it out with the pilots of the next arriving 737. He was charged but let off with a caution due to a sympathetic judge

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[Xhorst]

I think I would have reacted the same way if a foreign airliner repeatedly blew the roof off my house. Assuming my repeated requests for a blast fence installation had been ignored….

A man must protect his castle!

What happened next? Did he get his blast fence?