Teen to stand trial over attempted plane hijacking

A teen accused of trying to hijack a commercial plane has been committed to stand trial in the Supreme Court.

The now-19-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in a children’s court on Friday, formally pleading not guilty over the March 2025 incident.

It’s alleged the teen, dressed in high-vis clothing and carrying a toolbox, sneaked his way onto the Jetstar flight at Avalon Airport in Melbourne’s southwest.

The teen, who appeared sweaty and clammy, told cabin crew staff he had bombs in his bags and needed to go into the cockpit, court documents released to the media said.

It’s alleged he pulled out parts of a shotgun from his jacket and was in the process of putting them together when other passengers and crew intervened and restrained him.

When police arrived and searched the teen, they allegedly found a bomb diagram plan and a to-do list that said he needed to “make sure all weapons are assembled and stored”.

The list also stated he needed to “check explosives”, “work out disguise” and “wear safety glasses”, the documents said.

It’s alleged the teen also had a shotgun broken into three parts, nine shotgun cartridges, three knives, three Molotov cocktails and a teddy bear.

The teen, who was 17 at the time, was charged with eight offences, including attempted hijacking and prejudicing the safe operation of an aircraft with intent to kill.

The maximum penalty for those more serious offences is life in prison.

The teen’s lawyers pushed for the case to remain in the children’s court but a magistrate in June determined it should be uplifted to a higher court.

On Friday, the teen formally pleaded not guilty to all of his eight charges and was committed to stand trial in the Victorian Supreme Court.

He was remanded in custody to face a directions hearing on July 21.