What was going on with flights this Saturday?
A woman from New Zealand was removed from a flight and faced charges after she was seen dancing in the aisle while intoxicated as the plane was taxiing.
This unusual incident took place during a Qantas flight in July, traveling from Sydney to Queenstown.
Things took a turn when 50-year-old Shelley Young became unruly just before takeoff.
According to Australian Federal Police official Trevor Robinson, “The alleged behavior of this woman puts the safety of herself, her passengers, and crew at risk, and in this case, she was delayed taking off.”
Reports suggest that Young disregarded crew instructions, even using profane language—and, yes, dancing in the aisle.
As a result, the pilot made the call to return to the terminal and contacted the Australian Federal Police to have her removed.
Robinson emphasized, “Anyone who malfunctions under the influence of alcohol will be removed from the flight.”
Young reportedly resisted the officers initially but was eventually escorted off the aircraft.
Once the flight was allowed to proceed, she was taken to the hospital but returned to New Zealand the next day.
She appeared in court Wednesday, facing charges for not adhering to safety instructions given by the crew.
Young was charged with obstruction and resisting federal officials, facing potential sentences of up to two years in prison if convicted.
While such penalties might seem severe, Detective Robinson argued that Young’s actions posed a significant risk to everyone on board.
He stated, “This woman’s actions put the safety of herself, her passengers, and crew at risk, leading to delays.” He reiterated that anyone disrupting a flight due to alcohol would not be tolerated.
Similarly, another intoxicated passenger recently faced trouble on a Dubai-bound Emirates flight for verbally abusing flight attendants.
