Barry Clark was aboard Jetstar flight JQ 610 from Avalon to Sydney when a 17-year-old boy allegedly entered the aircraft armed with a shotgun and ammunition. Authorities believe the teen accessed the airport premises by squeezing through a gap in a fence before walking toward the plane on foot.
As the flight crew confronted him about his intentions, Clark, along with two other individuals, quickly intervened, tackling the teenager to the ground before he could carry out any harm. The group managed to restrain the suspect until police arrived on the scene to make an arrest.
The teenager now faces multiple charges, including unlawful control of an aircraft, jeopardising its safety, possession of a firearm, and other related offences. Clark had been travelling with the parents of Sydney Swans AFL player Jake Lloyd, intending to attend Lloyd’s milestone 250th game at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
After landing in Sydney, Clark recounted a whirlwind 24 hours filled with overwhelming media attention and phone calls. Despite the ordeal, he expressed excitement about witnessing Jake play, having known the player since childhood and long admiring his family’s support for him.
Reflecting on the incident, Clark shared how he had only managed to get a couple of hours of sleep after the scare, having spent the previous night at his daughter’s home in Geelong. Jetstar commended Clark’s heroic actions, offering him complimentary flights for the remainder of the football season as a gesture of gratitude.
In an emotional moment, Clark expressed concern for the flight attendant who confronted the young intruder, highlighting the stress she must have experienced during the incident. Meanwhile, Jake Lloyd responded with relief that his parents were unharmed and praised the bravery of Clark and others who acted to ensure passenger safety.