World

Qantas flight diverted after passenger allegedly bites crew member

According to reports, the flight QF21 from Melbourne, headed to Dallas on May 15, had to make a stop in Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia, due to a disruptive passenger.

Updated 5 months ago · Published on 17 May 2026 3:40PM

Qantas flight diverted after passenger allegedly bites crew member
Asking a flight attendant if he had smoked weed, the passenger continued swearing at staff and passengers. - Picture from https://www.news.com.au/, May 17, 2026

A QANTAS flight travelling from Melbourne to Texas was reportedly diverted to Tahiti after a man allegedly bit a flight attendant.

According to reports, the flight QF21 from Melbourne, headed to Dallas on May 15, had to make a stop in Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia, due to a disruptive passenger.

Alleged front-row footage of the passenger, which was uploaded to social media by comedian Mike Goldstein, shows the man stumbling out of the toilet still doing up his belt.

Asking a flight attendant if he had smoked weed, the passenger continued swearing at staff and passengers.

Throughout the video, the man keeps stumbling back onto the toilet door.

When warned that he may be restrained, he says, "I was just about to walk out for a cigarette”.

Then he appears to get more aggressive when asked to go to the back of the plane.

There is continued swearing as the Qantas workers tell him to behave, and a couple of passengers also get up and attempt to control him.

The footage then shows Tahitian police coming on board, and the camera turns down the aisle, showing the man face down on the floor being restrained.

“The safety of our customers and our crew is our number one priority, and we have zero tolerance for disruptive or threatening behaviour on our flights,” a Qantas spokesman said. – May 17, 2026

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