A pilot was forced to punch an 82-year-old man after he took over the controls of a plane and switched the engine off.
James Chandler punched Leslie Nixon in the face and broke his nose after he forced his way to the cockpit and allegedly tried to crash the plane.
The young pilot, who only received his licence two years ago, managed to regain control of the single engine plane and glide it to safety in a field just 110 miles from Sydney.
In an emergency call to air traffic control, Mr Chandler could be heard shouting and warning that a passenger was trying to take over the engines, it was reported.
Mr Chandler and the aggressive passenger were both taken to hospital to be treated for their injuries where police are currently waiting to question Mr Nixon to figure out if he was trying to deliberately crash the plane.
