Qantas flight from Melbourne bound for USA diverted after passenger reportedly bites crew member

The plane was forced to land in Papeete, Tahiti, where local authorities boarded the plane and arrested the passenger.

The plane was refueled and was able to complete its journey to Dallas, while the passenger was banned from all Qantas Group flights, including Jetstar.

It is understood the incident took place on board flight QF21, an 18-hour journey, with a screen in the video indicating there were almost 11 hours left of the journey at the time of the disruption.

Fellow passengers reportedly rushed to help the airline crew during the confrontation, and no serious injuries were caused.

His video showed the passenger coming out of one of the bathrooms and arguing with flight attendants about his behavior.

The passenger stumbled, slurred his words and swore repeatedly at crew members and other passengers.

“There are children everywhere and you are acting immature,” a flight attendant said to the passenger.

“You have to behave, you’re on a plane.”

The passenger expressed some confusion about being on a plane, asking a flight attendant if he was “smoking weed.”

“I was just about to go out for a cigarette,” the passenger said.

Goldstein’s video shows the passenger becoming more aggressive when told to go to the back of the plane.

“The safety of our customers and crew is our number one priority,” a Qantas spokesperson told 9News.com.au.

“We have a zero-tolerance policy for disruptive or threatening behavior on our flights.”

The flight ultimately arrived at its Dallas-Fort Worth destination several hours late on Saturday morning Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST).

The Australian Federal Police has been contacted for comment

The air disruption follows a series of recent high-profile incidents on domestic routes.

Just last month, a 45-year-old man from Queanbeyan was charged by the AFP after allegedly kicking a flight attendant and biting a fellow passenger on a flight from Canberra to Perth.

Similarly, in January, a 52-year-old woman from Canberra was escorted off a flight at Perth Airport and charged after allegedly behaving erratically and forcibly grabbing the arm and head of a flight attendant.

At the time of the previous incidents, AFP Acting Chief Inspector Hayley Faithfull reiterated that the agency works closely with aviation partners to intervene in cases of aggressive or anti-social behavior that poses a direct threat to crew or public safety.

NEVER MISS A STORY: Be the first to get your latest news and exclusive stories by following us on all platforms.