Why Jetstar flights specifically?
JetStar tends to fly to/from ports are less popular and may have security concerns like Avalon. Indeed, JetStar appears to be the sole operator out of Avalon which means that they in theory would have more sway on airport operations compared to a major port like Brisbane or Tullamarine. It will be interesting to see what Jetstar and the airport authorities do to bolster security here.
From the airline’s perspective, I think the actions of the crew (along with the passengers) yesterday demonstrated an exceptional level of competence.
Completely agree here. All it took was a couple of heroic passengers and crew to potentially save the lives of many. I am not an expert in firearms by any stretch but I could imagine that discharging a firearm in a confined space like an airplane would only result in mass casualties.
The security of the airport, not so much.
Certainly a security review needs to be done for Avalon. Although one does have to wonder whether it would have been any different at Tullamarine or Kingsford Smith. For instance, could someone cut through one of those fences and make their way airside as seems to be the case with this Avalon incident?
The poor boy needs mental health help. I'd guess autism or a psychosis and will put money on that he won't go to prison because that is not where he needs to be. Show some compassion AFF!
I think the better question is how a teenager could posses such a weapon. Perhaps I am missing something here but it is my understanding that Australia has some of the toughest firearm laws in the world, and one would presume that they wouldn't just give a firearm to a teenager like candy.
Avalon certainly isn’t a “major Melbourne airport” it’s a regional airport at best, there’s a handful of flights a day.
I was under the impression that Avalon was a fairly busy airport with international departures and arrivals. The only time I visited the airport (during COVID in 2022) it wasn't so busy, but was a decent size airport.
Unlike most regional airports Avalon covers a large land area with lots of commercial activities around the airport, finding a way through to airside really wouldn’t be difficult.
Hopefully there is a rethink of perimeter security at the airport.
It’s not unusual for no police to be present at the smaller airports - this might be rethought now - or at least changed to cover flight times.
Linfox might want a few more security guards.
An important question for which I don't have the answer to is what jurisdiction Avalon airport falls under. Would it be the state police (since it is in Victoria) or Federal police (since it is an airport that conducts inter-state and potentially inter-national flights)? What I do find interesting was that it took 10 minutes for police to show up.
www.abc.net.au
