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A man has been charged after Wednesday’s incident which saw a police firearm accidentally go off at Sydney Airport.
The 41-year-old Victorian man is facing charges of creating a disturbance at an airport and obstructing, hindering, intimidating or resisting a Commonwealth official over the alleged incident in the T2 domestic terminal at around 6am on 13 August.
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Airline staff contacted the Australian Federal Police after the man allegedly acted suspiciously near the check-in counters.
When officers confronted him, the AFP allege, the man became “verbally and physically aggressive” and was arrested; during the arrest, a police rifle unintentionally discharged into a nearby café. No injuries were reported.
“The AFP does not tolerate antisocial or aggressive behaviour at airports and our aviation officers acted swiftly after receiving a request for assistance from an airline,” AFP Acting Commander Scott Raven said.
“The AFP is investigating the circumstances around the discharge of the weapon; however, the alleged actions of this man and aggressiveness towards police created a volatile situation.
“The AFP is dedicated to ensure the safety of the community at our airports – any individual who allegedly breaks the law will be dealt with swiftly and will be brought before the courts.”
According to Acting Commander Raven, the AFP has opened an internal investigation into how the gun was discharged.
“It occurred in very close proximity or adjacent to a cafe wall when that firearm discharged. It was very low to the ground, and was ultimately lodged only a metre away from where the firearm was discharged into an oven in that café,” he said.
“[It was] one of our short barrel rifles that we do have as part of our counter terrorism first response at our airports and some of our other establishments that we need to protect.”
The terminal was not locked down as a result of the incident, and the AFP said two NSW Police officers – one current and one retired – also assisted with the arrest.
“The maximum penalty for first offence is two years imprisonment. The creating a disturbance offence is a $3,300 fine,” the AFP said in a press release.
“The man has been taken to Mascot Police Station and granted conditional bail. He is scheduled to appear before Downing Centre Local Court on 1 September, 2025.”
