Key takeaways from the incident:

• A 17-year-old attempted to board a Jetstar flight in Melbourne armed with a shotgun.
• Passengers, including a former boxer, successfully overpowered the teenager.
• No injuries were reported among the approximately 160 passengers on board.
• The teen was charged with multiple offenses related to the incident.
• Security at Avalon Airport has come under scrutiny following the breach.

In a shocking incident on Thursday at Avalon Airport near Melbourne, a 17-year-old boy attempting to board a Jetstar flight armed with a shotgun was swiftly overpowered by alert passengers. The incident occurred around 2:20 PM as the teenager, who reportedly breached airport security by slipping through a hole in the fence, approached the plane carrying about 160 passengers on board, preparing for a flight to Sydney.

Footage from the scene showed the young suspect, dressed in a high-visibility jacket resembling airport staff attire, being restrained by several individuals including a pilot and other passengers. Victoria Police Superintendent Michael Reid commended the heroic actions of those who intervened, stating it was a disturbing moment for all on board. "No doubt this would have been a very terrifying incident for the passengers," he reflected, adding that the passengers managed to overpower the teenager before police arrived on the scene BBC.

One passenger, Barry Clark, a former professional boxer, described the tense moments leading up to the confrontation. When the shotgun was pointed in the direction of a flight attendant, Clark quickly intervened, ensuring the safety of others while managing to restrain the armed individual. "I thought to myself that ain't a tool that should be on a plane," Clark recounted, highlighting the chaotic atmosphere as the passengers took action HuffPost.

Victoria Police took the teenager into custody with charges including "endangering safety of an aircraft," "unlawfully taking control of an aircraft," firearm possession, and conducting a "bomb hoax." The situation has prompted investigations into security measures at Avalon Airport, as concerns were raised regarding how the boy managed to access the airport grounds undetected South China Morning Post.

In response to the incident, Jetstar issued a statement reinforcing their commitment to passenger safety and cooperation with investigation efforts. The airport CEO announced enhanced security measures following this alarming security breach Channel News Asia.