[Phillippe M]

NT flight grounded after man stabs self
October 6th, 2008

A JETSTAR plane leaving Darwin had to turn around and land after a passenger stabbed himself with a weapon made from a toothbrush, the Northern Territory News can reveal.

A passenger, who would only be identified as Adam, said the man had a lot of blood on him and was restrained by cabin crew.

"They called for the restraint kit," he said.

"There was blood everywhere.

"They tied him up, restrained him, turned around ... they didn't give us any information."

The incident happened on Friday morning on JQ74 from Darwin to Sydney.

After the plane had turned back and landed the Australian Federal Police interviewed "a few" passengers and took the man away.

But the AFP yesterday said the man was not arrested and was not facing any charges.

It is understood the man will be dealt with by mental health authorities rather than police.

Adam, a miner who lives in Woodroffe, was sitting about eight rows behind the commotion.

He praised the cabin crew for their swift action.

"The two blokes that were there did an excellent job," he said. "It was all kept very, very quiet."

Jetstar spokeswoman Simone Pregellio said the captain of the flight made the decision to turn around in the interest of passenger safety.

Ms Pregellio said she understood the passenger had made a weapon out of the base of a toothbrush.

"It was a serious situation," she said. "Our crew are trained to prepare for all sorts of different situations."

Adam, who was on his way to Sydney to watch the NRL grand final, said it was the culmination of a shocking flight - when he arrived at the check-in counter he found another passenger had been checked in on his ticket, then his baggage was lost, and the plane was hours late in departing.

http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/200...75_ntnews.html

Air passenger stabs himself with toothbrush
October 06, 2008 06:57am

* Flight turns back after mid-air drama
* Passenger stabs himself with toothbrush
* Mental health authorities investigating

A JETSTAR flight had to turn back after take-off after a passenger stabbed himself with a toothbrush.

Another traveller, who identified himself only as Adam, told the Northern Territory News the bloodied man had to be restrained by cabin crew in the incident aboard the Darwin to Sydney flight on Friday.

"They called for the restraint kit," he said.

"They tied him up, restrained him, turned around ... they didn't give us any information."

When the plane landed, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) interviewed some passengers and took the man away.

The AFP said yesterday that the man was not arrested and was not facing any charges.

It is understood the man would be dealt with by mental health authorities.

Jetstar spokeswoman Simone Pregellio said she understood the passenger had made a weapon out of the base of a toothbrush.

"It was a serious situation," she said. "Our crew are trained to prepare for all sorts of different situations."

http://www.news.com.au/travel/prints...014090,00.html