Witnesses, including sheep shearer Barry Clark, described the chaotic scene. As he boarded the flight to Sydney for a football match, Clark observed crew members questioning the teenager, who was dressed unusually for a passenger. When a firearm suddenly appeared during the confrontation, Clark intervened, managed to lock the teen's arm, and restrained him until police intervened.

Victoria Police revealed they immediately searched the teen’s bags and vehicle for safety reasons, even deploying a bomb response unit as a precaution, although no injuries resulted from the encounter. The swift actions of the passengers and crew prevented potentially disastrous consequences, emphasizing the importance of vigilance in public spaces.