DENPASAR ~ Australian citizen Robert John, 38, was deported after causing a disturbance on a Garuda Indonesia flight from Melbourne to Denpasar, an official said.

Garuda general manager Bali Bagus Siregar said John would not only be deported, but would be banned from entering Indonesia again.

“Fifteen minutes before landing, John suddenly went crazy. He pinched a flight attendant after being refused alcohol. He then assaulted the head of cabin staff after being warned to fasten his seatbelt,” Siregar said.

According to Siregar, when the plane had landed, John assaulted a police officer and broke a window in the immigration office before being taken by force to Ngurah Rai Airport police station.

According to airport police chief AA Gde Mudita, as John was being deported, the case would be closed.