Passengers restrained on flight from Melbourne over ‘threats’

Two male passengers on a flight from Melbourne to the Middle East had to be restrained by fellow flyers after they allegedly made threats to others onboard.

The incident happened on Virgin Australia’s daily VA7 Melbourne-Doha service, operated by Qatar Airways, on Friday.

Footage posted online appears to show flight crew struggling with passengers.

Another clip shows uniformed police on the plane, with other passengers applauding.

3AW Drive host Jacqui Felgate said one passenger told her they helped “get the cable ties on” one passenger.

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“Then another fella and a cabin crew sat with one of them. The second guy was lying down cuffed by a cabin crew also for the flight,” she said.

The plane was met by authorities.

Felgate said another woman told her that her 63-year-old mother was on board next to the suspects for what she said was a “terrifying and disgraceful” ordeal.

“She was texting us from the plane Wi-Fi as it was escalating,” she said.

“Apparently they were headbutting and spitting on flight attendants.

“Apparently the men were shouting that they had a gun and required six to seven men each to restrain them in the galley until they could land.”

Qatar Airways confirmed two male passengers “were involved in a physical altercation on board flight VA7 from Melbourne to Doha, operated by Qatar Airways”.

“Both passengers were restrained and, upon arrival in Doha, were handed over to local authorities,” the airline said in a statement.