Fiji Airways crew restrained an unruly, intoxicated passenger mid-flight with duct tape, causing a legal investigation.
Flight attendants were recorded attempting to restrain and duct tape the mouth of a disruptive passenger who was screaming and thrashing on a Fiji Airways flight to the country’s main island.
The incident, originally reported by the New York Post, occurred on flight FJ871 from San Francisco to Nadi last Saturday. The woman, believed to be in her 60s, was described as “intoxicated” and allegedly made vulgar and racist comments during the flight.
The flight landed in Nadi on Monday, Jan. 20, where the passenger was met by local law enforcement and arrested. Fiji Airways confirmed that the matter is now the subject of a “legal investigation.”
According to a fellow passenger who filmed the altercation and spoke to news.com.au anonymously, the woman’s disruptive behavior escalated midway through the 11-hour flight. She began raising her voice, which prompted the cabin crew to intervene.
“It became known early on that the woman was traveling with her husband, but they were seated apart,” the witness said. “The husband requested to be seated elsewhere after she started causing a scene. Things escalated when she demanded the crew tell her where he had been moved.”
The witness added that the woman caused “great distress” to nearby passengers and crew, screaming abuse, throwing objects such as cups, and even slapping a flight attendant’s hands. Parents onboard were seen trying to block their children’s ears to shield them from her vulgar language.
Footage shared with news.com.au showed two cabin crew members attempting to tape the woman’s mouth shut after she refused to stop shouting. Other passengers reportedly called out for the woman to quiet down, especially after her racist comments targeted the Fijian crew.
“The crew moved her to the back of the plane, but her abusive behavior continued,” the witness said. “She even assaulted crew members and disrupted the cabin for the rest of the flight.”
It is believed that the woman had a connecting flight to Adelaide but will now remain in custody in Fiji. The airline informed her that authorities would meet her upon landing.
In a statement to news.com.au, Fiji Airways reiterated its zero-tolerance policy for threatening behavior. “At Fiji Airways, the safety of our passengers and crew is our highest priority. We are cooperating with the relevant authorities, who are investigating this incident,” a spokesperson said.
Sergeant Wame Bautolu of the Fiji Police confirmed that the woman was intoxicated and causing a nuisance during the flight. She has been charged with a count of unruly passenger behavior under Fiji’s Civil Aviation Act and is scheduled to appear in Nadi Magistrates Court on Friday.
“She is currently under the custody of Immigration Officials,” Bautolu added.
Fiji’s Civil Aviation Authority allows airlines to take measures against passengers deemed disruptive, including physical restraint, if necessary. When the aircraft lands, further actions may include handing the passenger over to law enforcement.
