Australian tourist, 52, arrested in Thailand over historic aircraft safety offence

An Australian tourist has been arrested in Thailand over aircraft safety offences he allegedly committed eight years ago.

Lorenz Francis Wilson, 52, was flying from Melbourne, Australia to Suvarnabhumi International Airport near Bangkok in 2018 when he allegedly stood up mid-flight on Jetstar Airways JQ29.

He was said to have disobeyed cabin crew as he walked down the aisle toward the aircraft door and started dancing.

Flight attendants warned him to sit down, but he reportedly ignored them. Police hauled him off the plane upon landing and took him to the airport police station.

He was later released and ordered to return at a later date. However, he failed to appear as scheduled, and the case was forgotten about. He had continued flying in and out of the country as normal.

But police launched a review of cases this month and began hunting the fugitive Aussie before tracking him to a housing estate in Bangkok on August 10.

Lorenz was charged with 'failing to comply with the orders of the aircraft commander or crew members acting on behalf of the aircraft commander to maintain rules, regulations, and order on the aircraft'.

Acting Police Major Sanchai Saenphan of the Samut Prakan Immigration Police said: 'This was a case in which Suvarnabhumi Police Station issued an arrest warrant. We checked the system and, after locating him, went to take him into custody at his residence.

'We then handed him over to Suvarnabhumi Police Station, which is responsible for the case and has the investigating officer handling it.

‘The case appears to involve him failing to comply with the orders of the captain or commander of an aircraft, or something along those lines. However, the incident actually dates back to 2018.

'During the period before the arrest, he constantly travelled in and out of Thailand. He rented a house here.

'Our role was simply to arrest him under the warrant, particularly because he is a foreign national.'

Police Colonel Thongrachada Riansuwong, superintendent of Suvarnabhumi Airport Police Station, said cops sought a warrant when Lorenz failed to appear for questioning after the 2018 incident.

He said: 'The suspect is Mr Lorenz Francis Wilson, an Australian national.

'The incident occurred on September 11, 2018, at around 11.30 am, aboard Jetstar Airways flight JQ29 travelling from Melbourne, Australia, to Suvarnabhumi Airport.

'The suspect failed to comply with an order from the aircraft commander that was given for the safety of the aircraft. He was dancing beside the aircraft door while the plane was in flight and did not remain in his seat when the captain turned on the seat-belt sign.

'No other passengers were affected by the incident.

'After the incident, the suspect was informed of the charge and questioned by police. He was not taken into custody at the time but was instructed to report to police at a later date. However, he failed to appear as scheduled and officers were unable to locate him. An arrest warrant was therefore issued so that he could be brought before the authorities and dealt with according to law within the applicable statute of limitations.

'Immigration officers arrested him and handed him over to Suvarnabhumi Airport Police Station on August 10, 2026. He was subsequently taken to Samut Prakan Provincial Court for a remand hearing on August 11, 2026.'

Under Section 7 of Thailand's 'Act on Certain Offences against Air Navigation', refusing to comply with safety instructions is punishable by up to five years in prison, a fine of up to 200,000 baht, or both.