A 24-year-old Queensland man is set to appear before Southport Magistrates Court today (3 March 2025) after being charged with allegedly vaping and committing an indecent act on a flight bound for the Gold Coast last December.
AFP Gold Coast Airport Commander Mark Yarrow reaffirmed that all passengers and staff should feel safe while travelling.
“This appalling conduct will never be tolerated by the AFP, and we will ensure individuals who engage in this kind of behaviour are held accountable for their actions,” Det a/Supt Yarrow said.
“This case is an example of how one person’s inappropriate behaviour can have a direct impact on those around them.”
Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers at Gold Coast Airport responded to an airline’s request for assistance on New Year’s Eve (31 December 2024) after the flight arrived from Melbourne.
It is alleged the man vaped into his jumper during the flight and inappropriately touched a female passenger as she returned from the bathroom. The passenger alerted airline staff, who then notified the AFP.
The man has been charged with:
- One count of smoking on an aircraft, contrary to section 91.530 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988.
- One count of an act of indecency without consent, contrary to section 60(1) of the Crimes Act 1900 (ACT).
If convicted, he faces a maximum fine of $2500 for vaping and up to seven years in jail for the alleged indecent act.
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