On Thursday, newly released court documents from a children’s court introduced fresh allegations against a 19-year-old, following his objection to transferring his case to a higher court the day before.
The allegations state that the teenager, clad in high-visibility gear and carrying a toolbox, managed to board a Jetstar flight at Melbourne’s Avalon Airport just before 3 p.m. on March 6, 2025.
According to the documents, the visibly nervous teen reportedly informed the flight crew that he was carrying explosives and insisted on gaining access to the cockpit.
It is further alleged that the teenager began assembling parts of a shotgun, which he retrieved from his jacket, but was quickly subdued by passengers and crew members.
After being restrained, the teen reportedly expressed admiration for some bystanders, acknowledging them as “good people” whom he respected.
Upon the police’s arrival, a search of the teenager allegedly uncovered a diagram for a bomb and a checklist instructing him to ensure all weapons were fully assembled and secured.
The list also stated he needed to “check explosives”, “work out disguise” and “wear safety glasses”, the documents said.
It’s alleged the teen also had a shotgun broken into three parts, nine shotgun cartridges, three knives, three Molotov cocktails and a teddy bear.
A Hungry Jack’s receipt from 12.25pm and a drink from the fast food chain were also located in his car, the documents said.
The teen, who was 17 at the time, has been charged with eight offences, including attempted hijacking and prejudicing the safe operation of an aircraft with intent to kill.
The maximum penalty for those more serious offences is life in prison.
At Wednesday’s children’s court hearing, prosecutors alleged the teen held a political or ideological motive as they applied for the case to be heard in the county or supreme courts.
The prosecutor argued the penalties available in the children’s court – a maximum sentence of a two-year supervision order – were inadequate to reflect the seriousness of the alleged crime.
The teen’s lawyer instead pushed for the case to remain in the children’s court, arguing a jury could not fairly and impartially decide on the case.
The lawyer also flagged a potential mental impairment defence, saying the teen’s mental health had deteriorated in the lead up to the alleged attempted hijacking.
The magistrate will decide in June whether to uplift the case to a higher court.
