Jetstar Crew Warned Splendour Punters About Airport Sniffer Dogs

A Jetstar crew member warned a plane full of passengers returning from Splendour In The Grass 2014 that there were sniffer dogs waiting at the airport and suggested they flush away any contraband ­before landing. The announcement has yielded positive comments on social media.

“We have been told there are sniffer dogs and quarantine officers waiting in the domestic terminal,” the crewman told passengers on a late Gold Coast to Sydney flight on Sunday night, according to News Limited. “If you need to dispose of anything you shouldn’t have we suggest you flush it now.”

After the crew member’s announcement, there was allegedly a rush for the toilets. However, not everyone onboard appreciated the warning. “I was shocked,” one passenger told News Limited. “Why would you tip people off about this? If they have got something illegal, let them get caught.”

“I obviously couldn’t tell if people were flushing things but several of the people who suddenly got up to queue for the toilet had things clenched in their hand,” the passenger added. According to the latest NSW Police figures, a total of 271 drug detections were made at Splendour. As Music Feeds reported, over a kilo of drugs were seized from punters from Wednesday to midnight Saturday.

Jetstar has confirmed to News Limited that the announcement was made, saying it was the result of an overzealous, casually employed crew member who chose to deliver his own “poorly” phrased quarantine announcement, as the airline is required to do, rather than the pre-recorded one.

“We’re required to play a pre-recorded quarantine announcement for customers on all flights across interstate and territory borders within Australia,” a Jetstar spokesman said. “Our procedures also allow cabin crew to deliver the quarantine message through a public announcement,” he added.

“And on this occasion the crew member elected to do so. The crew member’s words were poorly chosen and are plainly at odds with the professional standards we’d ­expect from our team,” the airline spokesman continued. “We’re addressing the matter with the cabin crew member involved.”

It’s not clear if the crewman will be reprimanded, but several posts on Jetstar Facebook page have commended the announcement. “Thank you for caring for your Splendour passengers. Very thoughtful and kind thing to do. Hope the staff member is promoted,” read one comment.

The incident may even prove good for business, with one person writing, “Good onya for warning passengers about the latest Splendour incident. Shall book my next international flight with you.” Another suggested that the crewman “should be rewarded” for the “care” shown to travellers.

Everything you should have seen at Splendour In The Grass 2014 – get it here!

Gallery: Lily Allen – Splendour In The Grass 2014, Byron Bay 27/07/14

Photos by Ashley Mar