Hackett was questioned by Australian Federal Police officers at the Melbourne airport after the flight.
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The former swimmer, who was reportedly in talks to be part of Seven’s commentary team, allegedly threatened another passenger when he reclined his seat.
But the man sitting next to Hackett on the Sunday flight from Adelaide to Melbourne, Collingwood Magpies AFL club chief executive Gary Pert, came to the swimmer’s defence on Australian radio’s Triple M on Monday morning.
“As I reclined my chair, he grabbed it and yanked it back, ” the business class passenger told the Herald Sun.
“Then he put his hand through and groped my chest and tweaked my nipple quite forcefully”, the passenger said.
So you’ve sat down for a short hop flight from Sydney to Melbourne, or perhaps Adelaide to Melbourne – some of the shortest domestic flights on the map – is it really ok to recline your seat?
But Pert told Neil Mitchell much of what had been reported was wrong.
The AFP said: “A 35-year-old man was spoken to, however at this time no charges have been laid. Enquiries in relation to this matter are continuing”, the statement read.
Numerous Australian media reported that the four-time world champion was returning from Adelaide where the competition was held when the incident on a Virgin Australia flight took place.
“The matter is now in the hands of Australian Federal Police”, a Virgin spokeswoman told AFP. “Our of respect of the privacy of our passengers and cabin crew it would be inappropriate to comment any further details”.
Pert accompanied Hackett to a toilet when police approached them.
Hackett also had a freaky incident at Melbourne’s Crown Casino, where he was spotted semi naked, wandering through the corridors looking for his son.
An Australian Olympic gold medallist has found himself accused of “tweaking” a plane passenger’s nipple during a row over a seat.
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Hackett’s out-of-control behaviour become the catalyst for a five-week stint in a U.S. rehabilitation centre in 2014 for addiction to sleeping pill Stilnox.
