Jetstar apologises after passengers reportedly told to flush drugs

SYDNEY, July 30, 2014 (AFP) - Australian budget airline Jetstar has apologised after a crew member reportedly told passengers to flush any drugs they had down a toilet before their flight landed in Sydney.

The flight, from the Gold Coast to Sydney on Sunday, was carrying some passengers returning from a music festival, Sydney's Daily Telegraph reported Wednesday.

"We have been told there are sniffer dogs and quarantine officers waiting in the domestic terminal," the newspaper reported the flight attendant, who was not named, as saying.

"If you need to dispose of anything you shouldn't have, we suggest you flush it now."

The airline did not confirm the words but said in a statement that it was required to play a pre-recorded quarantine message, which could also be delivered by the cabin crew, to passengers.

"The crew member's words were poorly chosen and are plainly at odds with the professional standards we'd expect from our team," it said.

"Our cabin crew play a vital role in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our customers," Jetstar added.

"We apologise to customers offended by the comments. We're addressing the matter with the cabin crew member involved."

It was not clear if there were dogs and officers at the terminal.

The crew member's remarks received a mixed response.

One passenger on board the flight told the Daily Telegraph they were "shocked", adding: "Why would you tip people off about this?"

But another commentator on Jetstar's Facebook page said having sniffer dogs at the airport was "entrapment" and "your cabin crew did the best thing for all".