KUALA LUMPUR: An Australian passenger was ordered to pay a substantial fine for his disruptive behaviour on a flight, forcing the aircraft to turn back to Perth and dump fuel before landing.
According to The Straits Times, the 33-year-old, whose identity remains undisclosed, was fined A$9,000 and ordered to cover more than A$8,630 in fuel costs, bringing his total penalty to over A$17,630.
The incident occurred during a flight from Perth to Sydney on Sept 25, last year. The man was allegedly intoxicated, and locked himself in the airplane's restroom, causing significant disruption.
The flight was then forced to return to Perth, with a necessary fuel dump conducted before landing.
The Perth magistrates court found him guilty of failing to comply with safety instructions and disorderly behaviour on an aircraft.
The details of the man's actions and the airline involved were not disclosed, but Australian media reported the flight belonged to Jetstar, a subsidiary of Qantas.
Acting Superintendent Shona Davis of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) said the case serves as a warning to would-be troublemakers on flights.
"This incident should serve as a warning that criminal behaviour on board can come at a heavy cost to the offender.
"It's far simpler to obey the directions of airline staff than cause unnecessary issues, which can end up hitting you in the hip pocket," he said.
The passenger had responded to media inquiries last year with an apology, flexing his bicep and said he would plead guilty because he would not be facing prison for the charges.