An Australian woman has been fined AUD 345 after an alleged incident aboard a Fiji Airways flight from San Francisco to Nadi, where she had to be restrained and her mouth duct-taped by flight attendants due to unruly behaviour.
Stephanie Alesandra Bank, 69, from Adelaide, appeared in the Nadi Magistrates Court on Thursday, facing one count of unruly passenger behaviour under Fiji’s Civil Aviation Act. Police confirmed that Bank was intoxicated and causing a disturbance, including alleged racist and vulgar comments directed at crew members.

A fellow passenger reported that the altercation began midway through the flight when Bank raised her voice and became abusive towards the crew. The situation escalated, prompting airline staff to restrain her at the back of the plane and tape her mouth shut after she refused to stop shouting.
Witnesses noted that her behaviour included allegedly throwing objects, slapping a flight attendant’s hand, and causing distress to passengers, particularly families with children. Her alleged comments reportedly upset others on board due to their offensive nature.

Bank was arrested upon arrival in Nadi on Monday, 20 January, and held in custody before being granted bail with a cash bond of AUD 690. A stop departure order was initially issued but later lifted after she paid the AUD 345 fine during a subsequent court appearance.

Fiji Airways stated that passenger safety and security are paramount and that the incident is under investigation by local authorities. Under Fiji’s Civil Aviation regulations, airlines have the authority to take action against disruptive passengers, including police involvement and potential prosecution.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has acknowledged the case and stated its readiness to provide consular assistance to Bank if required.
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