A 22-year-old Tongan man is expected to appear at the Mu’a Magistrate’s Court this week on charges including drunkenness and disorderly behavior allegedly committed, on a Virgin Blue flight from New Zealand on Thursday night, December 8.

Tonga Police today said the accused from Ma’ufanga was one of the Tongan fruit pickers in Australia who was returning home on the flight via New Zealand

The said the man was allegedly drunk before he boarded and became aggressive and was swearing at others while the plane was in the air heading to Tonga. "No one was injured but this man had a hostile behaviour," said police.

When the aircraft landed at Fua’amotu International Airport at around 9:00pm, the captain notified Tongan authorities, and police officers stationed at the airport boarded the flight and arrested the accused.

He was brought to the Mu’a Police Station and charged, to appear at Mu’a Magistrate’s Court this week.