Passenger Hit With Thousands In Fuel Charges After Disruptive Behavior Forced Plane To Turn Around

A passenger flying across Australia ended up having to shell out thousands of dollars because his disruptive behavior caused the plane to turn around.

Wade Corbett, who is 34 years old, was among the more than 150 passengers on a Jetstar flight from Perth to Sydney when the trouble began last September.

During the flight, Corbett was reportedly asked to fasten his seatbelt but refused. 

When the pilot came to speak with him, Corbett locked himself in a bathroom and wouldn’t come out.

Corbett also allegedly showed intimidating behavior towards the cabin crew when they refused to serve him more alcohol.

Because of his disruptions, the pilot decided to turn the plane back to Perth. 

However, the aircraft could not land safely without first dumping more than $13,330 ($20,000 AUD) worth of fuel.

Once the plane was back on the ground, the crew called the Australian Federal Police for help. Corbett was then arrested and charged.

Wade Corbett showed off his bicep when questioned by reporters 9 News

In the meantime, the other passengers were left stranded overnight.

When Corbett appeared at Perth Magistrates Court last September, he was asked if he had any words for the passengers who were stranded due to his actions.

He responded by laughing and simply saying, "Sorry guys."

Nearly a year later, Corbett returned to court where he pleaded guilty to one count of disorderly behavior on an aircraft and one count of failure to comply with safety instructions.

As a consequence of his actions, the court ordered Corbett to pay over $5,750 ($8,630 AUD) for the fuel costs and an additional fine of $6,000 ($9,000 AUD).

Outside the court, Federal Police Acting Superintendent Shona Davis criticized Corbett’s behavior.

She stated that the fines should act as a warning "that criminal behavior on board can come at a heavy cost to the offender."

The plane was forced to turn around after 40 minutes Morgan Hancock/NurPhoto via Getty Images

“It’s far simpler to obey the directions of airline staff than cause unnecessary issues, which can end up hitting you in the hip pocket,” she said, according to The West Australian.

“The AFP is committed to ensuring all travellers have a safe journey from their departure through to their arrival at their destination.”

Dumping fuel is a routine procedure for planes that take off with a weight exceeding the maximum landing weight.

Under normal circumstances, the fuel burned during the flight helps to lower the plane’s weight, making it safe to land without any risk of damage.

However, because Corbett's flight couldn’t reach its destination, the pilot had to dump the fuel to make sure the aircraft was light enough to land safely.