Attempted hijacking: alleged airport gunman charged with additional crimes

The 17-year-old allegedly breached a security fence at Avalon Airport on March 6 and almost boarded a plane bound for Sydney before passengers and flight crew tackled and restrained him.

Victoria Police announced on March 21 that the teen has been charged with Commonwealth offences, assaulting a member of an airline crew, attempted hijacking, prejudicing the safe operation of an aircraft with intent to kill and prejudicing the safe operation of an aircraft.

These are in addition to a number of charges he received after he was arrested on March 6.

The alleged attempted hijacking has prompted a probe into security at Australian airports.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke ordered regional airports to assess the security risks to "ensure an incident like this does not happen again" on March 10.

"On Friday, I directed my department to write to Avalon and all similar airports to inform them that they will be required to conduct a risk assessment to determine what security upgrades are necessary to prevent incidents like this one," Mr Burke said.

"The department is also working on measures (including use of directive powers) which would require airports to improve detection and monitoring of any intrusion into their grounds," he said.

Nine airports, Avalon, Newcastle, Launceston, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Alice Springs, Townsville, Mackay and Rockhampton, would be required to assess security risks.

Australia has around 630 airports including major, large regional, minor regional, remote and secondary metro airports. There are more than 200 airports in Queensland alone.

It's unclear whether these airports will be scrutinised for risks.

Australian Airports Association CEO Simon Westaway said the alleged attack at Avalon Airport was "an extremely rare event".

"Security-controlled airports meet strict requirements as directed by the Department of Home Affairs and individual security plans are approved under rigorous assessment processes, including airport perimeters," he said.

Police were called to Avalon Airport, between Melbourne and Geelong, at 2.50pm on March 6 with reports that a person with a firearm attempted to board a commercial flight after breaching a security fence.

The flight, Jetstar JQ610, was travelling from Avalon Airport to Sydney Airport with around 160 passengers.

Victoria Police superintendent Michael Reid said the teen, in hi-viz clothing, approached the plane and was tackled by passengers.

"As he's approached the plane, he's mounted or climbed the front stairs to the front of the plane. At that point, passengers have identified the male was carrying a firearm," supt Reid said.

At least three passengers in the plane's front row tackled the alleged gunman to the ground after they spotted the shotgun in his hand, police said.

Police rushed to the scene to detain the boy. Australian Federal Police operate out of nine Australian airports, to patrol and investigate aviation crime, but Avalon Airport does not have stationed officers.

The teenager, from Ballarat in Victoria, was allegedly acting alone.

Police said they located two bags and a vehicle allegedly belonging to the boy.

No one was injured and Victoria Police is investigating.

The 17-year-old from the Ballarat region, who cannot be named due to his age, did not make an application for bail at a hearing on March 7

He faces 12 charges, alleging he stole two 12 gauge shotguns and a rifle from a property in Tourello, near Clunes, on March 6.

Police alleged he told staff aboard the Jetstar flight "I've got bombs in my bag", and was in possession of a "faux homemade explosive".

He is also accused of breaching his L plater requirements on March 6 by driving on Beach Road unsupervised.

He has also been charged with unlawfully taking control of an aircraft, endangering safe operation of an aircraft, endangering safety of aircraft, dangerous goods on an aircraft, threat to the safety of an aircraft, bomb hoax, possess firearm, and traffic-related offences.

Victorian shearer Barry Clark was one of the passengers praised for tackling the alleged gunman.

The Moama man was flying to Sydney to watch AFL star Jake Lloyd, the son of family friends, play his 250th match against Hawthorn when the drama unfolded at Avalon Airport.

The shearing contractor is well-known in wool industry circles, providing shearing teams across Victoria, NSW and southeast South Australia.

Mr Clark made it to Sydney on the morning of March 7 to watch the match.

Read more about Mr Clark: shearing contractor's heroism defuses dangerous plane firearm incident