A hero Jetstar passenger who helped detain an alleged gunman who boarded a flight bound for Sydney has spoken to 9News about the ordeal.Barry Clark was sitting in the front row of flight JQ 610 from Avalon to Sydney when a 17-year-old allegedly boarded the plane from the tarmac, armed with a shotgun and ammunition rounds.Police allege the teenager climbed through a hole in a fence at Avalon Airport before making his way to the plane by foot.
Clark described a whirlwind 24 hours since the security scare at Victoria's second largest airport. (Nine)He was promptly tackled by three people, including Clark and the Jetstar flight's pilot, after an air hostess questioned his motives for boarding the flight.The trio detained the boy until police arrived and he was arrested.The 17-year-old was charged with unlawfully taking control, endangering safe operation and threatening the safety of an aircraft, as well as dangerous goods, bomb hoax, firearm possession and traffic-related offences.Clark boarded the plane with the parents of Sydney Swans player Jake Lloyd, to watch the midfielder play his 250th game against Hawthorn at the Sydney Cricket Ground this evening.The Murray River farmer spoke to 9News at the SCG after touching down in Sydney today to a roaring applause from Jetstar staff.
The 17-year-old was promptly tackled by three people, including Clark and the Jetstar flight's pilot, when an air hostess questioned his motives for boarding the flight. (Nine)"I finally got here and I just can't wait to see Jake play tonight," Clark said."I've known him from a little boy and I've admired him and what his father and mother [have done] and his father's supported him."Clark described a whirlwind 24 hours since the security scare at Victoria's second largest airport."I've had that many phone calls and different things ringing me, I haven't had time to think, but yeah it's, reality is hitting," Clark said.
Clark boarded the plane with the parents of Sydney Swans player Jake Lloyd, to watch the midfielder play his 250th game at the SCG. (Nine)"I sat at my daughter's house last night at Hamlyn Heights in Geelong and I probably had about, maybe two hours sleep."Jetstar praised Clark's brave efforts and offered him free flights to watch the Swans for the rest of the year."All I wanted to do was look after that beautiful air hostess lady, which my daughter and I are going to catch up with in the next couple of weeks," Clark said."I felt so sorry for her, she was probably on the frontline … I've never seen anything like it in my life."In a statement, Lloyd said he was "grateful that my parents are OK"."It sounds like there were some incredibly brave actions from Barry and others to keep everyone safe," Lloyd said.: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.