THIS is the terrifying moment a pilot and passenger wrestled a suspected plane hijacker to the ground – after he tried to storm the plane armed with a shotgun and knives.
The 17-year-old boarded the plane “dressed as a worker” and told airline crew he was there to do “maintenance work”.
The footage shows the teen wearing a fluorescent jacket – similar in colour to those worn by airport ground staff – being wrestled to the ground by a passenger and a pilot.
Hero passenger, Barry Clark, is seen with his hand around the teen’s neck, as the pilot holds his arm and empties his tool belt.
What appears to be the butt of a shotgun is then seen being kicked away from the teen on the floor.
Panicked passengers can be heard throughout the footage, with one asking “How is this possible?”.
Clark said: “Before we knew it, there was a gun – a shotgun appeared – and I was worried about there being shots,”
“All I could do was get the gun out of the way. And then put him in a hold and throw him to the ground until the police came.”
When asked what was going through his mind while facing danger, the shearer from Victoria said: “You don’t think, you act”.
He added: “I’ve been taught from a boy to be responsible and look after others and we’re a sporting family, so I was quietly confident I could handle him… you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.”
Clark was praised by fellow passengers and airport staff for his heroic act.
Passenger, Daniel Defino, said: “Barry and the pilot saved us, 100 per cent.”
Airport chief, Ari Suss, said: “I told Barry he changed the course of history with what he did.”
Clark was offered “free flights for life” on account of his bravery.
The Jetstar plane was due to fly from Avalon Airport in Melbourne to Sydney when the teen stormed the plane.
Victoria’s police superintendent, Michael Reid, told reporters the teen entered the airport through a hole in the security fence.
From there he then mounted or climbed the front stairs to the front of the plane.
Passengers said the boy became agitated after boarding the plane after being asked for a boarding pass or identification by a flight attendant.
Reid said: “No doubt this would have been a very terrifying incident for the passengers.
“Victoria Police really commend the bravery of those passengers who were able to overpower that male.”
The teen was arrested and has been charged with eight offences.
These include unlawfully taking control of an aircraft, carrying out a bomb hoax and possessing a firearm.
A man was arrested on a flight form El Bajío to Tijuana after storming the cockpit and trying to open the door in December.
Shocking footage showed passengers fighting for their lives as they desperately dragged the man, thought to be called Kel Mario N, 31, to the ground.
The plane was due to travel from Melbourne to Sydney and had 160 passengers on board[/caption]
Jetstar is the budget division of Australia’s biggest airline, Quantas Airways[/caption]
