Passenger Charged After Racist Disruption on Fiji Airways Flight

A disturbing incident occurred on Fiji Airways flight FJ871 from San Francisco to Nadi when a 69-year-old Australian woman became abusive mid-flight, prompting crew members to restrain her with duct tape. Passengers reported the woman was intoxicated and shouted racist and vulgar language, throwing objects and slapping a flight attendant. The episode started after her husband requested to be seated away from her, escalating tensions onboard. After approximately an hour of chaos, the flight landed in Nadi where local authorities arrested her under Fiji's Civil Aviation Act. Fiji Airways has stated its commitment to cooperating with the investigation, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy for threatening behavior. The woman remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in court, though charges have yet to be confirmed.