An Australian influencer's airplane prank backfired spectacularly, earning him bans from two major airlines.
Australian influencer Hugh Lovett has been banned from flying with two major airlines after inflating an emergency life jacket during a flight safety demonstration. The stunt, which he filmed and shared online, quickly went viral but also attracted serious consequences.
Influencer Pulls Life Jacket Prank During Safety Demonstration
Lovett, one of four brothers behind the social media group The Lovetts, was traveling on a Jetstar flight from Sydney to Adelaide on October 16 when he decided to pull the prank.
In a viral Instagram video, Lovett can be seen sitting beside his brother Blake as the aircraft's prerecorded safety demonstration explains how to use an emergency life jacket. As the instructions warn passengers to inflate their vests only after leaving the aircraft, Lovett pulls the inflation cord, causing his life jacket to rapidly expand around him.
His brother immediately covers his face in disbelief as the prank unfolds. The video later cuts to Lovett being escorted off the aircraft by Australian Federal Police officers after the plane landed in Adelaide.
Lovett was initially allowed to complete the flight after being moved to another seat with an unused life jacket. However, the incident was far from over once the plane reached its destination.
Jetstar and Qantas Ban Influencer After Prank
According to reports, Lovett later received an email informing him that he had been banned from flying with both Jetstar and Qantas. Neither airline has publicly confirmed how long the restrictions will remain in place.
A Jetstar spokesperson stressed that tampering with emergency equipment is a serious matter and that passengers are legally required to follow crew safety instructions.
"We have zero tolerance for behaviour that puts the safety of our customers and crew at risk," the spokesperson said.
Inflating a life jacket inside an aircraft cabin can restrict movement and potentially interfere with an emergency evacuation. The equipment is designed to be inflated after passengers have exited the plane.
The Australian Federal Police confirmed that inquiries into the incident were ongoing, although no charges had been publicly announced at the time of reporting.
For Lovett, a few seconds of viral content have resulted in a ban from two of Australia's biggest airlines. What may have seemed like a harmless joke has instead become an expensive lesson about taking airline safety instructions seriously.
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