A teenager armed with a loaded shotgun has been charged after allegedly trying to force his way onto a Jetstar flight in Victoria before being overpowered by passengers.

The 17-year-old from Ballarat allegedly climbed through a hole in the security fencing at busy Avalon Airport, south-west of Melbourne, before running to the plane.

The teen tried to climb the front stairs into the cabin, but he was overpowered by three passengers who noticed him carrying the shotgun.

Police were called to the major airport on Thursday afternoon following reports a male with a firearm had attempted to board a Jetstar flight.

The flight, which was carrying about 150 people, was bound for Sydney.

“This would have been a very terrifying incident for the passengers of that plane, and Victoria Police really commend the bravery of those passengers who were able to overpower that male,” Superintendent Michael Reid said.

Farmer and shearer Barry Clark tackled the teen — who was dressed as a maintenance worker — when he became agitated while speaking to the flight attendant.

“Before we knew it, a shotgun appeared, and I was worried about it being shot,” Clark told ABC Radio Melbourne.

“All I could do was push her out of the way, get the gun out of the way, break that gun and throw it down the stairs, and then put him in a hold, throw him to the ground until the police came.

“I didn’t want to see that poor girl get shot, you just gotta do what you gotta do.”

Police detained the teenager and found live ammunition rounds along with the shotgun, but said he was not known to police.

He was interviewed and charged with eight offences:

• Unlawfully taking control of an aircraft
• Endangering safe operation of an aircraft
• Endangering safety of aircraft
• Dangerous goods on an aircraft
• Threat to the safety of an aircraft
• Bomb hoax
• Possess firearm
• Traffic-related offences

He was remanded in custody to appear at a children’s court at a later date.

Police said they believed the boy climbed through a hole in the airport fence. Whether he’d cut it himself or it was already there was being investigated.

The vehicle that he arrived in had been found, Reid said.

Bomb squad officers were also called in after two bags were found inside the teenager’s car. They were later deemed safe.

Jetstar is working with Victoria Police and the airport to understand what happened.

“The safety of our passengers and crew is our No.1 priority and we can confirm there are no reported injuries,” an airline spokeswoman said.

Avalon Airport, which is Victoria’s second busiest airport, was closed to visitors after the incident, chief executive Ari Suss said.

All flights scheduled for Thursday night were cancelled and re-routed.

-with AAP