Plane-ly Ridiculous: Aussie Passenger Makes Dramatic Exit

In a scene straight out of a Hollywood action flick, federal agents in Australia nabbed an airline passenger Thursday after the daredevil decided to turn an emergency exit door into their personal expressway to the tarmac.

Imagine this: Jetstar flight JQ507, fresh from Sydney, lands at Melbourne Airport. While most passengers are gathering their carry-ons and preparing to deplane like normal folks, one adventurous soul decides to spice things up.

This thrill-seeker, in a move that would make even Tom Cruise raise an eyebrow, opens the emergency exit door, takes a leisurely stroll along the wing, and then climbs down a jet engine to the tarmac. Yeah, you read that right.

Just to set the scene, Melbourne Airport is in the state capital of Victoria, smack dab in the southeastern part of the country. Jetstar, for those not in the know, is a budget airline owned by Qantas - Australia's national carrier.

Cam Beaman, the airport's spokesperson, assured USA TODAY that the plane was parked during this wild escapade. So, no in-flight antics here, folks.

Emergency Slide: The Ultimate Party Trick

Alana Grech, representing Jetstar, explained to USA TODAY that the plane had landed and was parked at the gate when our mystery passenger decided to throw a little excitement into the mix. Opening the emergency exit door automatically deployed the emergency slide, because why not add a bit of flair?

"The passenger exited via the emergency exit and walked along the wing before making his way down to the ground via the engine," Grech said. Talk about a grand entrance...or exit, in this case.

Caught and Arrested: The Show's Over, Folks

Our daredevil didn't get far, though. Airport staff quickly detained the passenger, and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) took them into custody.

"Melbourne Airport is proud of the exceptional response from ground crew, which meant there was no immediate danger to other passengers or airport staff," Beaman said. Way to go, team!

Officials didn't spill the beans on the passenger's name or origin. Guess we'll have to wait for the movie adaptation to find out more.

"We thank our passengers for their patience and understanding while our team assisted the AFP to manage this incident," Grech said.

Special thanks to Eve Chen.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.