Abroad
Jetstar flight to Melbourne returns to Bali after woman attempts to open emergency door mid-flight
She was later escorted off the flight.
April 02, 2025, 10:36 AM
An hour into a Jetstar flight from Bali, Indonesia, to Melbourne, Australia, a woman attempted to open the plane's emergency doors.
She was reportedly upset because she could not recline her seat, and wanted to sit in a different row, according to Australian media outlet 9News.
Although she was stopped by a fellow passenger, her actions led to the flight being turned back to Bali, delaying travel for over 200 passengers.
Passenger stops her
Flight JQ-34 had departed from Denpasar Ngurah Rai International Airport at around 8:40 PM local time.
Australian reality star Brooke Jowett, who was on board the flight, shared her experience on social media.
According to Jowett, the woman was upset about her seat not reclining.
"She wanted to sit in a different row and have a chair that could recline, so she decided to try to open the doors," Jowett said.
"One of the guys sitting in front of us was near the toilets, and he pulled her away from the door as she was trying to open it."
The man was reportedly an off-duty officer.
In a video posted by Australian TV presenter Jacqueline Felgate, sent by a passenger, the pilot can be heard explaining that the flight needed to return to Bali after the woman attempted to lift the door handle, triggering a warning sound.
Escorted off the flight
In response to queries from Mothership, Jetstar confirmed that local authorities in Bali removed the disruptive passenger from the aircraft.
Passengers on the canceled flight were offered an alternative flight.
"We had an aircraft return to Denpasar on Monday night after a disruptive passenger attempted to open one of the aircraft doors and was abusive to our crew," the airline said.
"The safety and welfare of our customers and crew are our top priority, and we thank them for the way they responded to the situation. This sort of unacceptable behavior will never be tolerated on our flights."
9News reported that the woman has since been banned from flying with Jetstar.
Tussle on another flight
Just a day earlier, another Jetstar incident, this time on a flight from Melbourne to Bali, gained attention online.
Image via witchtrain/Instagram
In the video, two men can be seen arguing, which escalates into physical fighting.
The altercation reportedly stemmed from a disagreement over a reclined seat.
The airline is investigating the incident.
Top photos from 7News and Jetstar Asia/Facebook
