A chilling plan to hijack a commercial aircraft in Australia and force it to fly to a hostile Middle Eastern country has been thwarted, according to an exclusive report by The Australian.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) and a joint counter-terrorism taskforce are investigating the alleged plot, with a suspect now in custody.
“The matter is before the court, with open-source reporting on this individual’s court case in July 2025. Suppression orders remain in place,” the AFP said in a statement.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has reportedly been briefed on the incident.
Health Minister Mark Butler described the report of a potential hijacking as something that “sends shivers down the spine of every Australian,” but urged caution. “There’s no threat to the Australian community, but there’s a suppression order on this for good reason. Investigations are still underway,” he said on Sunrise.
Opposition Senator Jane Hume said passengers should feel reassured that security agencies are “doing everything they possibly can” but pressed the government to release details of a recent security review following an earlier incident at Avalon Airport.
While speculation has emerged about whether the alleged plot was motivated by anti-Semitic or pro–Middle Eastern sentiment, security agencies have urged restraint until the investigation concludes.
The AFP continues to lead inquiries into the foiled hijacking attempt, with officials confirming the plot involved plans for the aircraft to refuel en route to the Middle East.
Authorities have assured the public there is no ongoing threat to aviation security.
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