A man who was involved in a chaotic incident at Brisbane Airport has found himself back in trouble and behind bars once again. Djon James Bland, who is currently serving a nine-month sentence for a separate matter, appeared via video link from the Capricornia Correctional Centre for his latest court appearance.
The 26-year-old had initially been granted bail after a May 15 incident at Brisbane Airport’s domestic terminal. During the incident, Bland allegedly verbally abused Virgin Australia staff and had to be restrained by passengers before police intervened. A video of the incident shows Bland shouting and thrashing around before being tackled to the ground by another passenger.
Witnesses reported that the situation escalated when Bland was informed that he could not board his flight at Gate 45. Brisbane Airport and Virgin Australia later expressed their gratitude to those who helped intervene during the incident.
At the Brisbane Magistrates Court, there was some confusion regarding Bland’s charges. The prosecutor explained that new charges of public nuisance and assault occasioning bodily harm would replace the original charges due to a doctor’s report. Bland objected to the new charges, but the Magistrate quipped, “Nice try.”
Bland mentioned that he had not consulted with a lawyer about his case yet and expressed a desire to proceed with the case if he had received the necessary evidence. When asked about his behavior in prison, Bland jokingly claimed to be the best inmate.
The Magistrate advised Bland to avoid flying and instead drive to Brisbane for his next court appearance after his release. While he was granted bail for the updated charges, Bland will remain in custody for the unrelated matter until his release on August 23. The case is scheduled to return to the Brisbane Magistrates Court on September 11.
