VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: Antisemitic outburst by 19yo on Bali–Sydney flight
With Sydney siders still reeling from the massacre of those celebrating Hanukkah at Bondi Beach on Sunday, a 19-year-old passenger has been arrested on a Virgin Australia flight. The 19-year-old is accused of an alleged antisemitic outburst on board a Virgin Australia flight from Bali to Sydney. This incident comes at a time of deep grief and heightened sensitivity within Australia’s Jewish community.
Incident details
The passenger on VA66, which departed Denpasar on Tuesday night, reportedly stood up mid-flight and directed antisemitic language toward another traveller. Virgin Australia crew followed established security procedures, and the aircraft was met on arrival at Sydney Airport at 7.45am, where Australian Federal Police officers arrested the man.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) have confirmed the arrest and said the individual was “assisting police with their inquiries,” emphasising that there is no ongoing threat to the community.
Mourning Sydney
The timing of the in-flight incident has resonated strongly, given the sombre national mood following the Bondi shootings during a Hanukkah celebration, where members of Sydney’s Jewish community were killed and injured in an attack that shocked Australians. Those events have left many families mourning and have heightened concerns about antisemitic behaviour, whether on the streets, online, or even in the confines of an aircraft cabin.
Airlines have been increasingly vigilant about passenger conduct, particularly when behaviour risks escalating tensions or distressing other travellers. Virgin Australia confirmed that its crew acted in accordance with security protocols, ensuring the safety and well-being of passengers until authorities could intervene.
2PAXfly Takeout
For travellers, the episode is a reminder of the fragile emotional climate many communities are navigating right now. It’s the responsibility of all passengers to uphold safety, respect and calm while in the air.
I returned to Sydney from visiting my family in Adelaide on Sunday evening, just as the incident began. Intending a quiet night in front of the TV, I was greeted with rolling coverage on all free-to-air stations. We spent the evening texting friends affected by the incident because of where they live or their faith. All was well, fortunately.
This incident is all the more shocking because mass shootings are so uncommon in Australia. Guns are hard to get, and we pride ourselves on our multiculturalism and tolerance. For instance, the last mass shooting was in Port Arthur, Tasmania, in 1996, with 35 people killed and 23 injured. It’s not like in the US, where over 70 school shootings have occurred in 2025 alone.
Our thoughts go out to all those affected, their families and friends, the brave police and community members who confronted the assailants, and, in particular, the Australian Jewish Community.
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