Perth, May 29: A man was arrested after allegedly running naked down the aisle of a Virgin Australia flight, causing significant disruption and knocking down a flight attendant. The incident took place on Monday night during a scheduled 3-hour and 30-minute flight from Perth to Melbourne.

Independent reported that shortly after takeoff, the man reportedly stripped off his clothes and began running through the aircraft, leading to chaos among passengers. Witnesses described scenes of "yelling and screaming" as the man charged towards the front of the plane without any clothes on. The commotion forced the flight, VA696, to return to Perth Airport. US: ‘Strong Odour’ Detected on Orlando-bound Flight, Passengers Evacuated Through Jet Bridge and Slides (Watch Video).

In an official statement, Virgin Australia confirmed that the plane returned to Perth due to a “disruptive passenger.” Australian Federal Police officers were waiting at the airport, where they arrested the man upon the plane's arrival. "The disruptive guest was offloaded," the airline stated. US: Atlas Air Plane Catches Fire Mid-Air After Engine Malfunctions, Makes Emergency Landing at Miami Airport (Watch Video).

Police confirmed that the man, who allegedly ran naked mid-flight and knocked a crew member to the floor, was taken to the hospital for assessment, where he remains. Details on how, where, or why the passenger removed his clothes are still unclear.

Authorities are considering charges and are expected to summon the man to appear before a court in Perth on June 14. The exact charges he will face have yet to be finalized.

Virgin Australia apologised to the passengers affected by the incident, emphasising that the safety of passengers and crew is its top priority. Both the airline and police declined to comment further.

The flight resumed its journey to Melbourne after the man was removed, arriving 28 minutes late. The Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported that, despite the disturbance, no injuries were sustained during the incident.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 29, 2024 09:48 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).