Air New Zealand Perth to Auckland flight diverted to Melbourne after passenger ‘assaults crew member’

A flight from Perth to New Zealand was diverted to Melbourne and a passenger was booted from the plane after he allegedly assaulted a crew member.

An Air New Zealand flight bound for Auckland from Perth was redirected to Melbourne Airport on Wednesday morning when Australian Federal Police officers swooped on the aircraft.

The AFP confirmed its officers boarded the plane and escorted a 23-year-old New Zealand man from the plane. He has been charged with one count of assaulting crew affecting the performance of their duty.

He is due to appear in the Broadmeadows Magistrates Court tomorrow.

The remaining passengers continued on to Auckland after a 90-minute delay.

Air New Zealand spokesman David Morgan said the crew handled the incident well, but added it would have been distressing for those on board.

“Incidents like this are distressing for our customers and our people and we have zero tolerance for this sort of behaviour on our aircraft,” Mr Morgan said.

The diversion comes less than a week after another Air New Zealand flight was held on the tarmac for two hours when it arrived at its destination, Sydney, following what the airline called a security incident. Local news outlets reported there had been a bomb threat.

There was “no threat to the community”, the Australian Federal Police said on Saturday.

The 23-year-old man is due to appear in the Broadmeadows Magistrates Court tomorrow.”