Travellers told to jump and run

VIRGIN Australia’s quick response to a bomb threat aboard a flight yesterday has been praised when compared with suffering endured by passengers on a Malaysia Airlines jet at Tullamarine last week.

A passenger on the Virgin flight from Sydney to Albury was alleged to have written a one-word threat on a sick bag left in a plane toilet.

Upon landing at Albury, the cabin doors were ripped open and the 42 passengers told to jump 1.2m from the turboprop plane to the tarmac and run.

Bags were left in overhead lockers and the aircraft was then thoroughly searched.

No explosive device was found. Information provided by cabin crew resulted in the arrest of a passenger.

The threat was discovered 15 minutes before landing at 9.30am. Police and emergency services were waiting to meet the aircraft.

A 30-year-old Sydney man was arrested and later charged with sending a document threatening death or grievous bodily harm and providing false information.

The offences carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in jail. He will reappear at court in Albury on July 4.

Passengers on a Malaysia Airlines A330 that returned to Melbourne last week were made to stay on the plane for 90 minutes after a man threatened to blow it up. Passengers subdued him in midair and he now faces charges.