The 17-year-old was overpowered by passengers and pinned to the floor of the plane after trying to climb on board the Jetstar flight near Melbourne on Thursday afternoon, Victoria Police said.

Police alleged he crept through a hole in the security fence surrounding Avalon airport, some 60km southwest of Melbourne city.

He was charged Friday with “endangering safety of aircraft”, “unlawfully taking control of an aircraft”, firearm possession and “bomb hoax”, Victoria Police said in a statement.

None of the approximately 160 passengers on board the flight to Sydney were injured, and police took the boy into custody.

They later found “two bags and a vehicle” belonging to him.

Police were in contact with counter-terrorism investigators but it was too early to establish a motive, superintendent Michael Reid told reporters on Thursday evening.

“No doubt this would have been a very terrifying incident for the passengers,” he said.

“Victoria Police really commend the bravery of those passengers who were… able to overpower that male.”

Footage of the incident aired by Australia’s Channel Nine showed a boy in a fluorescent green jacket – similar in colour to those worn by ground staff – being pinned to the floor by a passenger and a pilot.