Keiron Beau James Hedges, a 57-year-old Victorian man, appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Thursday facing charges stemming from an alleged bomb threat at Perth Airport's Terminal 1 on Wednesday afternoon. The incident triggered a full evacuation of the terminal building, disrupting flights and stranding hundreds of passengers.
The alleged threat led to the immediate evacuation of Terminal 1, impacting 450 incoming international passengers who were held on two planes for three hours as the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and partner agencies investigated. An exclusion zone was established around an unattended backpack that police allegedly linked to Hedges. He remains in custody, with his bail application deferred pending a mental health assessment. He is scheduled to reappear in court on Tuesday.
Disruption and Investigation
Prosecutors detailed the chaos caused by the alleged threat. Beyond the passengers stuck on aircraft, an unspecified number of passengers remained in the terminal while authorities assessed the situation. Access to the airport's train station was also temporarily suspended. The AFP, alongside WA Police Force and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) through the WA Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT), were involved in the response.
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AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Peter Brindal stated, "The AFP and its partners will not tolerate threats to aviation security." The AFP has provided a list of behaviours that the public should report to Airport Watch, including taking photos of security infrastructure, avoiding screening, leaving bags unattended, concealing identity, and exhibiting erratic behaviour.
Legal Proceedings and Background
Mr Hedges, who is reportedly on a disability support pension, faces potential charges that could carry a maximum penalty of ten years' imprisonment. The prosecutor indicated that the AFP is considering further charges.
The court ordered a mental health assessment for Hedges, a step that echoes previous cases involving airport security threats. For instance, in March 2026, Liam Alexander Hall, accused of an attempted terror attack, also had his case adjourned for psychological assessment, with his defence intending to pursue a mental health defence. Similarly, a 31-year-old man charged in February 2026 with engaging in a terrorist act had the "right people, with the right experience" engaged from the outset, according to a joint ministerial release.
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In a separate, unrelated incident in March 2025, a passenger was charged after allegedly making a bomb threat while on a flight before takeoff. The AFP noted at the time that they would not tolerate such threats, overt or overheard. In July 2024, a 30-year-old Western Australian man was charged with common assault after allegedly assaulting another passenger, while another 31-year-old man was charged in July 2024 for threatening airline and airport staff. In December 2025, a man was charged over an alleged "disorderly and aggressive incident" at the airport.
A New Zealand national was also charged in February 2026 for allegedly possessing violent extremist material at Perth Airport, following an investigation by the WA JCTT that included reviewing data on his phone relating to violent acts and bomb manufacturing.
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In a distinct case from February 2019, a 50-year-old man who threatened to blow up Brisbane Airport, known to police for domestic violence incidents, was charged with offences including pretending to have a bomb.
