Australian Federal Police arrested a 28-year-old Canadian man upon his arrival in Adelaide on Thursday.
The man is accused of performing indecent acts during his flight from Hong Kong to Australia.
He allegedly indecently assaulted a pair of female flight attendants before being restrained by crew and passengers.
They managed to handcuff him for the remainder of the flight.
According to an airline memo, the man pinned one of the flight attendants down, laid on top of her and put his hand up her skirt.
Cathay Pacific said it wouldn’t tolerate "any unruly behaviour that puts our people or our passengers in harm’s way."
The man had a student visa for Australia but is now in custody on indecency charges that carry a maximum 10 years in jail.
He appeared in court on Friday and a magistrate ordered a psychiatric assessment, reported the Adelaide Advertiser, adding prosecutors opposed bail.
The paper also reported that the man’s lawyer urged bail, telling the court his client had accommodation arranged before his arrival in the city.
He’s reportedly studying law and had a four-year student visa to Australia.
It’s not clear where in Canada he’s from, but his bail hearing has been scheduled for later this month.
With files from the Canadian Press.
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