Disturbing new details emerge about unruly passenger who caused a Bali-bound flight to turn back to Australia

• Flight JQ43 from Melbourne to Bali turned back  
• Unruly passenger abused elderly man and others
• Others claim she was acting ‘erratically’ prior to boarding 
• READ MORE: Jetstar passenger breaks his silence after being dragged off flight 

The woman who allegedly caused a Jetstar flight headed to Bali to turn back was reportedly acting ‘erratically’ prior to boarding and abused an elderly man while on the plane.

Jetstar Flight JQ43 from Melbourne to Bali took off as scheduled at 10am on Monday.

Just two hours into the six-hour journey, flight crew made the decision to abandon the planned route and return to Melbourne at 3pm after a passenger became unruly.

Fellow passenger Kyle Hand said the chaotic scenes started after the woman spent 30 minutes in the toilet.

Hand added the woman was pacing up and down the aisle of the aircraft before hurling abuse at a man he believed to be about 75-years-old.

A Jetstar flight to Bali was forced to turn back and land in Melbourne after a passenger went on a tirade and even banged on the cockpit door

‘She started abusing and threatening to assault, I would say the guy would have been about 75, and that’s when it really kicked off,’ Mr Hand told Sunrise on Tuesday.

Another passenger claimed the woman went on a tirade mid-flight and even banged on the cockpit door as she believed someone had stolen her phone.

‘Jetstar flight from Melbourne to Bali turned back to Melbourne today because a woman went loopy and banged on the cockpit door because she thought someone stole her phone,’ the passenger wrote on Facebook.

The unruly passenger began screaming at other travellers before she was eventually restrained.

‘I am not sure what happened but she kept abusing a few more people down the back — they ended up restraining her,’ Mr Hand said.

Mr Hand added another passenger told him that the woman was acting ‘erratically’ even before boarding the flight.

‘The passengers next to me mentioned that they saw her acting pretty erratically just before she got on the plane,’ Hand said.

Fellow passenger Kyle Hand (pictured) claimed the woman abused a man he believed to be about 75-years-old before she was restrained

Jetstar rescheduled the flight and apologised to its customers for the inconvenience

Jetstar rescheduled the flight and apologised for any inconvenience.

‘The Captain decided to return to Melbourne to get assistance from the Australian Federal Police after a passenger became disruptive just under two hours into the flight,’ the airline said in a statement to Daily Mail Australia.

‘We know this was a difficult experience for other customers and our team members, and we thank those who assisted with the situation.

‘Due to the circumstances, several crew members were unable to continue flying and the flight has been rescheduled for 10am tomorrow.

‘We will provide accommodation overnight to any customers who need it and cover other reasonable expenses including meals.

‘The safety of our customers and crew is our priority.’

The Australian Federal Police are currently investigating the incident.

READ MORE: Qantas passenger is detained on flight between Bali and Melbourne after ‘attacking’ cabin crew

Read more