Qantas Bars Passenger After Biting Attack Forces Emergency Tahiti Stop

A Melbourne-to-Dallas flight diverted to Tahiti after a male passenger allegedly bit a flight attendant and caused sustained disruption, resulting in a permanent Qantas travel ban.

A Qantas flight from Melbourne to Dallas was forced to divert to Tahiti mid-route.
A male passenger allegedly bit a flight attendant during the incident.
The passenger was removed from the aircraft upon landing in Tahiti.
Qantas has issued a permanent ban on the passenger from future travel with the airline.
The incident is among the most serious in-flight disruption cases reported on a Qantas service in recent years.

Qantas has permanently banned a passenger after a flight from Melbourne to Dallas was forced to divert to Tahiti following his alleged assault on a crew member, including biting a flight attendant.

The incident unfolded in the air over the Pacific. The aircraft landed in Tahiti, where the man was removed. The flight subsequently continued to Dallas.

Qantas confirmed the ban in a statement reviewed by the News, describing the passenger’s behaviour as completely unacceptable and in violation of the airline’s zero-tolerance policy on crew assaults.

Flight attendants are subject to physical assault in a small but persistent share of serious in-flight incidents globally. Biting constitutes a criminal assault under Australian law and under the laws of most jurisdictions where Qantas operates.

Tahitian authorities were notified upon landing, sources told the News. It is not confirmed whether charges have been filed or are pending in any jurisdiction.

Qantas has not disclosed the passenger’s identity or nationality. The affected flight attendant’s condition was not detailed in the airline’s statement.

Qantas is expected to provide further comment on any law-enforcement referrals in the coming days.