A flight from Melbourne to Dallas made an unexpected stop in Tahiti after a passenger allegedly bit a flight attendant during a mid-air confrontation.

The man, believed to be a New Zealand national, received a lifetime ban from Qantas and Jetstar airlines after the disruption caused the plane to divert.

The man was filmed by fellow passengers as he stumbled in the aisle, arguing with airline staff and attempting to “walk out for a ciggie”.

Footage uploaded by comedian Mike Goldstein did not show the alleged biting, but did show an extended dispute between the passenger and airline staff.

A clip of the flight attendant telling the passenger he was carrying on “like a bloody two-bob watch” is gaining traction online.

The saying refers to someone behaving erratically or frantically. Mr Goldstein admitted he had never heard the phrase before, but said he plans to adopt it into his own vocabulary.

“You’ll be restrained if you don’t behave yourself, you’ll be restrained for the whole trip,” the flight attendant warned the man, before walking him to the back of the plane.

The dispute occurred 11 hours before the QF21’s expected arrival in Dallas.

Authorities met the plane in Papeete, and the man was removed.

He is facing a lifetime Qantas ban, with a spokesperson for the airline saying “the safety of our customers and our crew is our number one priority”.

“We have zero tolerance for disruptive or threatening behaviour on our flights,” the spokesperson said.

Credits: Qantas

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Melbourne Airport Chief of Aviation Jim Parashos said AirAsia’s low-cost offering coupled with the carrier’s onward connections will make it an attractive offering. “Bali is the destination of choice for Victorians, but there’s more to Indonesia than just Bali and AirAsia’s extensive network will allow travellers to explore beyond Bali,” he said. “Even though it’s such a popular market we are still seeing passenger numbers between Melbourne and Bali increase by more than 13 per cent year-on-year, which highlights the appetite for new services. The beauty of Bali lies in the fact it’s a six-hour flight from Melbourne that often costs less to get to than domestic destinations such as Perth, making it a really attractive offering for budget conscious travellers and families. We’re seeing the benefits of more competition in these international markets flowing through to travellers in the way of cheaper airfares and more choice, which is a great outcome for everyone.”

Captain Achmad Sadikin Abdurachman, General Manager of Indonesia AirAsia, said the launch reflects strong demand for Bali and reiterated the airline’s commitment to Australia, and bringing affordable travel options for Australians. “Bali continues to be the most popular international holiday destination for Australians, and we’re excited to give Victorians another great value option when planning their next escape,” he said. “This new service marks Indonesia AirAsia’s first entry into Melbourne and supports our goal of providing greater, more affordable and flexible access between Indonesia and Australia. It also strengthens social and economic ties between our two countries, supports tourism growth, and creates more opportunities for travellers to experience the rich culture, cuisine and natural beauty of both destinations.”

Credits: Air Asia

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