A Sydney-bound Qantas flight has been diverted because of a drunk passenger who allegedly broke through all four sets of plastic handcuffs on the flight after repeated attempts to steal whisky.
Flight QF24 from Bangkok was forced to land in Cairns about 5.45am on Sunday where about seven Australian Federal Police officers escorted the male passenger from the plane.
The man had reportedly tried to steal bottles of Scotch whisky from the cabin crew area several times before becoming unruly.
It is understood the man was detained on board by two plainclothes AFP officers and was moved from economy class toward business class.
The man, who appeared to be aged in his 20s, shouted on and off for several hours, at one point yelling "turn off the f---ing light c---".
An air hostess told some passengers that the man had broken through all four sets of "flexi-cuffs" on board the flight.
In a statement, Qantas confirmed the flight had been diverted "due to an intoxicated passenger" and the passenger had been taken away by the AFP.
The flight, which had been due to land in Sydney at 6.45am, is now expected to arrive at 9.05am.
The AFP have been contacted for comment.
