A 17-year-old boy who allegedly attempted to force his way onto a Jetstar flight at Avalon Airport in Victoria earlier this month is facing fresh federal charges, including attempted hijacking. The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, originally faced 12 Victorian offences but now also faces four commonwealth charges.
The charges include assaulting a member of an airline crew, attempted hijack, prejudicing the safe operation of an aircraft with intent to kill, and prejudicing the safe operation of an aircraft. Police allege the boy climbed through a hole in a fence at the airport near Geelong on 6 March before making his way on foot to the aircraft, which was due to fly to Sydney with about 160 passengers on board.
It has emerged that a joint counter-terrorism taskforce is involved in the investigation, and the boy may have communicated with a foreigner or foreign entity over the incident. The Australian Federal Police have obtained a suppression order on the identity of the foreigners and the nature or content of the boy's communications, as well as documents allegedly found in his vehicle.
The teenager did not appear at a children's court hearing on Friday, where the suppression order was applied for. He is also charged with possessing cartridge ammunition and a registered category B long-arm without the appropriate licences, and being a learner driver who was driving unsupervised on Beach Road.
