Jetstar and Qantas have banned Australian social-media creator Hugh Lovett after he inflated a life jacket during the pre-flight safety demonstration on Jetstar flight JQ768 from Sydney to Adelaide. The incident, filmed for social-media content, occurred on 16 October and prompted Australian Federal Police to meet Lovett when the aircraft arrived in Adelaide. No charge has been confirmed.
The recorded briefing instructed passengers to inflate life jackets only after leaving the aircraft. Lovett activated his jacket during the demonstration, despite the warning, and was later escorted from the aircraft for questioning. The airlines have not disclosed the duration of the no-fly restriction; Lovett has described it as temporary while the matter is reviewed.
Jetstar maintains that passengers must follow crew safety instructions and must not remove or tamper with emergency equipment unless directed to do so. The airline has a zero-tolerance approach to behaviour that could put customers or crew at risk.
An inflated life jacket can restrict movement in the cabin and impede an evacuation. Activation can also leave the equipment requiring inspection or replacement before the seat is considered properly equipped, creating potential operational and compliance issues. The circumstances surrounding any formal offence or possible prosecution remain unclear.