Man Arrested for Alleged Assault on Wellington-Sydney Flight

A 25-year-old man was taken into custody at Sydney Airport after allegedly assaulting a fellow passenger on a flight from Wellington to Sydney.

Photo by : Oli Reardon Pollett

Taninrut Saklor, a Thai national, was arrested by Australian Federal Police officers on Wednesday as he disembarked a flight. The incident allegedly began when passengers were retrieving their bags from the overhead compartments. A bag reportedly fell onto Saklor, causing him to become aggressive.

Saklor then allegedly punched the man seated next to him in the face. Upon landing, airline staff promptly notified the authorities, leading to Saklor’s arrest.

Saklor faces a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, which carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison. He is scheduled to appear in Downing Centre Local Court today.

AFP Acting Superintendent Damien Full strongly condemned Saklor’s aggressive behavior, emphasizing that no passenger or crew member should be subjected to threatening or violent actions.

Photo by: Noah Stohr-Waldren

“In such a confined space, aggressive behavior can be incredibly distressing for everyone on board,” said Full. “The AFP collaborates closely with airlines to swiftly respond when anyone’s conduct jeopardizes the well-being of others.” He underscored that the police maintain “zero tolerance for violent or abusive actions.”

The condition of the alleged victim after the assault remains unknown.

This incident occurs shortly after another significant disruption involving a Wellington-Sydney flight. On October 20, authorities were summoned to Sydney International Airport after Air New Zealand flight NZ247 arrived with reports of a bomb threat. Tactical operations, paramedics, and firefighters were all dispatched to the runway following the flight’s 5:40 pm local time arrival.