Virgin Australia crew attacked in Fiji on New Year’s Day: Police

[Craig Nigrelli]

FIJI POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING TWO SEPARATE INCIDENTS INVOLVING VIRGIN AUSTRALIA CREW MEMBERS—ONE OF ALLEGED THEFT AND ANOTHER OF ALLEGED SEXUAL ASSAULT.

THE INCIDENTS HAPPENED EARLY ON NEW YEAR’S DAY IN NADI, A POPULAR TOURIST DESTINATION WHERE THE CREW WAS ON A LAYOVER. ACCORDING TO POLICE, THE CREW MEMBERS HAD VISITED A NIGHTCLUB BEFORE THE ALLEGED INCIDENTS OCCURRED. A SUSPECT TIED TO THE SEXUAL ASSAULT CASE HAS BEEN QUESTIONED, AND AUTHORITIES SAY INVESTIGATIONS ARE ONGOING.

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA SAYS IT IS AWARE OF THE INCIDENTS AND HAS SENT REPRESENTATIVES TO FIJI TO SUPPORT THE AFFECTED STAFF. THE AIRLINE DID NOT PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS BUT CONFIRMED THAT THE CREW MEMBERS ARE COOPERATING WITH THE INVESTIGATION AND ARE EXPECTED TO RETURN HOME SOON.

FIJI’S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, WHO ALSO OVERSEES TOURISM, EXPRESSED REGRET OVER THE INCIDENTS, SAYING THAT SUCH CRIMES, WHILE RARE, ARE NOT ENTIRELY AVOIDABLE. HE URGED TOURISTS TO EXERCISE CAUTION IN NIGHTCLUB AREAS, PARTICULARLY LATE AT NIGHT.

FIJI’S ECONOMY RELIES HEAVILY ON TOURISM, WITH NEARLY A MILLION VISITORS ARRIVING ANNUALLY, MAINLY FROM AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, AND NORTH AMERICA. THIS INVESTIGATION COMES SHORTLY AFTER ANOTHER HIGH-PROFILE INCIDENT WHERE SEVERAL FOREIGN TOURISTS WERE HOSPITALIZED AFTER CONSUMING COCKTAILS AT A LOCAL RESORT. HOWEVER, AUTHORITIES RULED OUT POISONING IN THAT CASE.

OFFICIALS SAY SAFETY REMAINS A TOP PRIORITY, BUT THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE NEED FOR CONTINUED VIGILANCE TO ENSURE THE WELL-BEING OF VISITORS AND LOCALS ALIKE.

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