Man who allegedly sparked Brisbane Airport mayhem back in custody as Magistrate warns: ‘Don't fly'
Djon James Bland appeared via video link from the Capricornia Correctional Centre, where he is currently serving a nine-month sentence for an unrelated matter imposed by the Mackay Magistrates Court.
The 26-year-old had initially been granted bail after the May 15 incident at Brisbane Airport's domestic terminal, where he allegedly abused Virgin Australia staff and was restrained by passengers before police arrived.
Footage of the incident showed a man, wearing a white T-shirt and a green Lime scooter-style helmet, shouting profanities and thrashing as staff and passengers tried to restrain him, before he was tackled to the ground by another passenger.
He was arrested by an Australian Federal Police officer about 15 minutes later.
A man wearing a helmet has been wrestled to the ground outside at gate at Brisbane's domestic airport.
Witnesses said the outburst escalated when Mr Bland was told he couldn't board his next flight at Gate 45.
Brisbane Airport and Virgin Australia later thanked those who stepped in to help.
On Thursday, at the Brisbane Magistrates Court, there was some confusion over Mr Bland's charges.
The prosecutor explained two new charges, public nuisance and assault occasioning bodily harm, would replace the original charges of public nuisance and common assault due to a doctor's report.
Before the clarification, Mr Bland objected to the fresh charges, claiming the matter should be dismissed.
'Nice try,' the Magistrate replied.
Mr Bland told the court that he hadn't yet spoken to a lawyer about his matter.
'If I had got the brief of evidence … I would be able to do the case today,' he said.
Mr Bland was asked if he had been behaving in prison, to which he laughed and replied, 'Yeah, I'm the best.'
The magistrate then advised him, 'Don't fly – drive down to Brisbane' for his next appearance after his release.
He was granted bail for the updated charges but will remain in custody for the unrelated matter until his release date on August 23.
The matter is set to return to Brisbane Magistrates Court on September 11.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Australian
13 hours ago
- The Australian
Chaos at Brisbane Airport after security machine malfunctions
Brisbane Airport has been thrown into chaos after a technical fault at security forced thousands of people to be re-screened. The fault was found in a single metal detector at the domestic terminal on Monday, which delayed about 10 flights departing from for one hour or longer, according to the Courier Mail. A Brisbane Airport spokesman said everyone who was inside the terminal had to be re-screened. 'The fault was quickly identified and there is no safety or security threat,' a spokesman said. 'However, it will take some time to re-screen all passengers and staff, delaying flights. 'We apologise for the inconvenience and thank passengers for their patience and understanding. 'Our care team has been activated and is on the ground to support passengers.' There has been no impact to flights at the International Terminal. NewsWire NSW Police are reviewing footage of an officer allegedly pushing a woman to the ground during a dramatic arrest after a car was damaged outside a school. NewsWire After a 'tough' 2024-25 season in Italy, Ajdin Hrustic is confident a return to the Dutch top-flight can aid his chances of being recalled to the Socceroos squad.
Perth Now
15-07-2025
- Perth Now
Man fined after shock plane arrest
A Brisbane jetsetter has escaped with a $1700 fine for using a fake name to board a flight, after an alleged phone conversation about a bomb led to his dramatic arrest. Bernhard Freddy Roduner, 44, was found guilty of using false identification to obtain a flight ticket on Tuesday. He boarded a Brisbane-bound flight at Sydney Airport on January 14, and was allegedly overheard referring to a bomb during a phone conversation before takeoff. He was escorted off the Virgin Australia plane by police and was found to be travelling under a fake name. Bernhard Roduner has denied allegations he travelled under a fake name and made bomb threats on a Brisbane bound flight. Facebook Credit: Supplied Officers searched the aircraft and confirmed there was no threat of a bomb. Mr Roduner earlier told the Daily Mail a woman sitting in a row in front of him may have misinterpreted him telling a colleague 'Tassie is the bomb', as he was returning from a trip in Tasmania visiting friends and regularly used the phrase. Mr Roduner also suggested his vaguely middle eastern appearance may have played a role in the incident. He was charged with one count of taking a constitutional flight with a ticket obtained with false identity information, one count of using false identification information at a constitutional airport and one count of threatening aviation security. The first charge has a maximum $16,500 fine and the third carries a potential one year prison sentence however Mr Roduner was fined only $1000 for the first and $700 for the second. Mr Roduner's earlier charge of threatening aviation staff was dismissed in June. He appeared in Downing Centre Local Court in March to plead not guilty to the offences. Mr Roduner said the fake name accusation was also the product of an unfortunate mix up, claiming a friend in Tasmania had booked his flight home via Sydney and their name was used on the ticket. It comes after Australian Federal Police Detective Superintendent Morgan Blunden said the AFP would not tolerate threats to aviation. 'Travelling on an aircraft should be a safe experience for passengers and airline crew alike,' Mr Blunden said. 'The AFP will continue to work closely with airline partners to deal with any behaviour that interferes with aviation security.'
News.com.au
15-07-2025
- News.com.au
Fake name, shock arrest: Brisbane jetsetter escapes with fine
A Brisbane jetsetter has escaped with a $1700 fine for using a fake name to board a flight, after an alleged phone conversation about a bomb led to his dramatic arrest. Bernhard Freddy Roduner, 44, was found guilty of using false identification to obtain a flight ticket on Tuesday. He boarded a Brisbane-bound flight at Sydney Airport on January 14, and was allegedly overheard referring to a bomb during a phone conversation before takeoff. He was escorted off the Virgin Australia plane by police and was found to be travelling under a fake name. Officers searched the aircraft and confirmed there was no threat of a bomb. Mr Roduner earlier told the Daily Mail a woman sitting in a row in front of him may have misinterpreted him telling a colleague 'Tassie is the bomb', as he was returning from a trip in Tasmania visiting friends and regularly used the phrase. Mr Roduner also suggested his vaguely middle eastern appearance may have played a role in the incident. He was charged with one count of taking a constitutional flight with a ticket obtained with false identity information, one count of using false identification information at a constitutional airport and one count of threatening aviation security. The first charge has a maximum $16,500 fine and the third carries a potential one year prison sentence however Mr Roduner was fined only $1000 for the first and $700 for the second. Mr Roduner's earlier charge of threatening aviation staff was dismissed in June. He appeared in Downing Centre Local Court in March to plead not guilty to the offences. Mr Roduner said the fake name accusation was also the product of an unfortunate mix up, claiming a friend in Tasmania had booked his flight home via Sydney and their name was used on the ticket. It comes after Australian Federal Police Detective Superintendent Morgan Blunden said the AFP would not tolerate threats to aviation. 'Travelling on an aircraft should be a safe experience for passengers and airline crew alike,' Mr Blunden said. 'The AFP will continue to work closely with airline partners to deal with any behaviour that interferes with aviation security.'
