A passenger has averted potential disaster on an international flight after allegedly stopping another passenger from prying open the plane's emergency exit doors.
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A 33-year-old Canadian man, Rahulreet Singh Mann, was travelling from Vancouver, Canada to Sydney, Australia on May 14 when he allegedly pulled at the exit door two hours into the flight.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) allege that the man was drunk or otherwise intoxicated at the time.
He was moved away from the exit rows to a seat in the rear of the plane and was supervised by airline staff until the plane landed in Sydney.
He was arrested by AFP officers at the arrivals gate in Sydney and charged with one count of threatening the safety of an aircraft.
"The AFP and our aviation partners have no tolerance for antisocial, violent or dangerous behaviour and we will take action," detective inspector Dom Stephenson said.
"Passengers expect to feel safe and should not have to witness or endure intoxication or reckless behaviour."
He faces a maximum penalty of a $5000 fine, imprisonment or both as his case progresses through the Downing Centre Local Court.
He entered a 'not guilty' plea on May 20 and will face court again on July 8.
The maximum penalty for this offence is a $5,000 fine or imprisonment or both.
If you require a police presence at an airport or wish to report an incident or provide information, please call the AFP's Airport Watch on 131 AFP (131 237).