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'Absolutely berserk': Flight diverted after 'drunk passenger' starts brawl on packed plane

A flight from the Gold Coast to Singapore was forced to divert to Sydney after an allegedly drunk passenger lashed out at fellow travellers and crew in terrifying and violent scenes.

The man was filmed on Scoot flight TR7 which was headed for Singapore on Monday. It was due to land at about 3pm local time.

But the plane was forced to divert to Sydney just one hour and 20 minutes into the flight after he man became unruly.

Video uploaded to Facebook by another person on board shows the passenger’s rampage before he is eventually subdued.

The man was filmed gets into a brawl on Scoot flight TR7 before he’s restrained by a passenger. Source: Facebook
The man was filmed gets into a brawl on Scoot flight TR7 before he’s restrained by a passenger. Source: Facebook

He’s seen in the aisle exchanging punches with a man in a cap. A man in a pink shirt tries to intervene and restrain him but the flurry of blows continues.

The man he’s hitting eventually manages to grasp him in a headlock – he flails trying to break free.

The situation seems to calm but the man soon takes his shirt off and begins yelling before charging down the aisle where he’s tackled to the floor.

The passenger is restrained by cable ties. Source: Facebook/ Billy Skinner
The passenger is restrained by cable ties. Source: Facebook/ Billy Skinner

One passenger who filmed the altercation claims the man “started drinking heavily” after the flight was delayed.

Passenger Billy Skinner shared video and images of the man restrained with cable ties.

“Tell me a better way to start your luxury holiday,” he wrote.

Mr Skinner also claims the man was trying to bite people and was “absolutely going berserk”.

The flight was diverted to Sydney to allow passengers to continue on to Singapore on other flights.

The man was taken away by Federal Police but is yet to be charged.

A Scoot spokeswoman told Yahoo7 in a statement the passenger was “unruly” but during boarding and take-off the passenger “appeared normal”.

“A while later, the unruly passenger punched another passenger. Following safety procedure, our crew stepped in to break up the fight, and were assisted by other passengers,” she said.

“The unruly passenger was eventually subdued with two restraining kits, with the help of five passengers.”

“Tell me a better way to start your luxury holiday,” one passenger said.

She added “a decision was made” to return to Sydney and hand the man over to police. The man who was punched told staff he didn’t need medical attention.

“In Sydney, we were able to transfer the passengers to alternative flights bound for Singapore, on both Scoot’s flights as well as Singapore Airlines’ flights,” she said.

“In Singapore, Scoot representatives will be meeting with arriving customers to assist them where necessary.”

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