Passenger spared jail after kicking man in face on Wellington flight to Sydney

A New Zealand permanent resident has been sentenced to an 18-month community correction order in Australia after pleading guilty to assault on a Wellington flight to Sydney. Taninrut Saklor, who lives in Wellington, appeared in a Sydney court on Thursday after the incident on Qantas flight QF162. The court was told that on disembarking the flight on Wednesday, another passenger sat next to him attempted to get a bag from the overhead bin but dropped it accidentally on Saklor. The Thai national then lashed out, kicking the other man in the face twice, hitting both his eyes. Saklor was transiting to Thailand, reported the Daily Telegraph. Magistrate Brett Thomas called it “a complete overreaction” as he convicted Saklor. Assault occasioning actual bodily harm can carry a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment. Australian Federal Police Acting Superintendent Damien Full said there is a “zero tolerance for violent or abusive behaviour. Aggressive action in an enclosed space can be extremely frightening for everyone. “The AFP works closely with the airline industry to intervene if anyone’s behaviour impacts the wellbeing of other passengers.”<br/>