A Northern Territory man who assaulted fellow passengers and caused more than $7000 worth of damage after punching an aircraft has been sentenced to 16 months behind bars.
The 24-year-old became aggressive towards passengers and cabin crew on a flight from Cairns to Groote Eylandt on April 20.
During the flight he punched and damaged the aircraft, refused to follow the instructions of airline staff and assaulted fellow passengers, the Australian Federal Police said.
The flight was forced to turn around, the AFP said in a statement at the time.
Upon landing, the Groote Eylandt man was arrested and charged with disorderly behaviour, contravening a domestic violence order, endangering the safety of an aircraft and committing affray and assault on an aircraft.
The man pleaded guilty to all five offences in Darwin Local Court on Thursday, the AFP said in a statement on Saturday.
