Members of the Australian Olympic men's soccer and rugby sevens teams are facing investigations into unruly behaviour on their flight home from Tokyo.
Japan Airlines has submitted a written complaint to the Australian Olympic Committee alleging hours of rowdy and drunken antics during the teams’ 10-hour return flight from Tokyo to Sydney, according to a report by Sydney-based The Daily Telegraph.
The report quotes other passengers on the flight, which touched down Friday morning, as saying some players refused to follow instructions by airline staff to sit down. Players also allegedly raided alcohol stored in the galley of the plane, despite pleas by the airline staff not to do so.
In addition, one passenger reported that several athletes began vomiting, and that one of the plane's toilets was "wasted".
"Obviously, they weren't wearing their masks as they were drinking all the time," one passenger told the tabloid.
Japan Airlines confirmed that a written complaint has been sent to the Australian Olympic Committee, telling Kyodo News on Wednesday, "As they are travelling as athletes representing their country, we hope they take heed of that fact and behave as such."
The Australian Olympic Committee said in a statement that it was made aware of unacceptable behaviour by Olympic team members on the flight and took immediate action by convening a meeting of the chief executives of the sports.
"It's extremely disappointing, but both rugby and football have told me that such behaviour is certainly not acceptable within their sports and have sincerely apologised to the Australian Olympic Team," said committee CEO Matt Carroll.
The two football codes told the Olympic committee that they are taking full responsibility for their players and have indicated that they will be investigating the reports of unacceptable behaviour on the flight, the statement said.
