Virgin Australia crew members allegedly sexually assaulted and robbed outside Nadi nightclub

A man has been charged with the rape and sexual assault of one of the Virgin Australia crew members in the early hours of New Year’s Day, near a nightclub in Martintar, Nadi.

Police confirm he has been charged with one count of sexual assault and one count of rape.

They say he is in custody and will appear in the Nadi Magistrates Court on Monday.

Police have yet to charge anyone in relation to the robbery of another crew member.

Meanwhile, News.com.au reports the crew members have now returned to Australia.

A female crew member, who was allegedly sexually assaulted near the club, flew back to Australia yesterday while her male colleague returned on Thursday after receiving treatment for facial wounds.

Five other crew members remained in Fiji to assist the investigation, staying close to their hotel as directed by their airline’s headquarters.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism in an earlier statement has said regrettably, incidents like this can happen anywhere and Fiji is not immune.

He reminded tourists to exercise caution in nightclub areas and late at night.

The suspect who was questioned yesterday for the alleged sexual assault of Virgin Australia crew members in the early hours of Wednesday morning in a nightclub area in Martintar, Nadi has been released.

Police say no one has been charged yet as their investigations continue.

They also confirm the crew members are still at the hotel under the orders of their headquarters.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism Viliame Gavoka says there were two separate alleged incidents, one being alleged theft and the other being alleged sexual assault which affected two different crew members.

A suspect known to Police has been questioned for the alleged sexual assault of a Virgin Australia crew member in the early hours of yesterday morning in a nightclub area in Martintar, Nadi.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism Viliame Gavoka says there were two separate alleged incidents, one being alleged theft and the other being alleged sexual assault which affected two different crew members.

He says their thoughts and concerns are with them and for their health and well-being and says these alleged incidents are regrettable.

Gavoka has also refuted reports by various international media claiming that the crew are being ‘detained’ as this is incorrect and false.

The Deputy Prime Minister says the crew, who are in good health, are being accommodated at a local hotel which is the nominated crew accommodation for layovers.

He says the three crew members were also advised by their headquarters to remain within the hotel vicinity to ensure contactability and assist with Police investigations; they should return home before the end of this week.

Gavoka is urging the international media to exercise caution in their reporting and avoid sensationalising incidents without facts.

He says regrettably, incidents like this can happen anywhere and Fiji is not immune.

The Deputy Prime Minister says they, as always, remind tourists to exercise caution in nightclub areas and late at night.

When fijivillage News contacted Virgin Australia they said they were aware of an incident in Nadi, adding their focus is on the well-being of their team members affected.

They confirm that their crew were not detained, they were advised to stay at the hotel.

Virgin Australia says they have sent people over to provide support and out of respect for their crew will not be providing further comment.

Police have taken statements from two Australian airline crew members who were allegedly raped and robbed after attending a nightclub on New Year’s Eve in Martintar, Nadi.

Divisional Police Commander West, Senior Superintendent of Police Iakobo Vaisewa, says no one has been charged yet.

Acting Police Commissioner Juki Fong Chew has confirmed to fijivillage News that investigations are ongoing, and it is alleged that locals are the suspects.

7News Melbourne reports that three Virgin Australia crew members were involved in the incident after their aircraft landed at Nadi Airport.

It is understood that the three crew members have been confined to their hotel rooms in Nadi until further notice.

A senior management team from Virgin Australia has been sent to Fiji to assist with the investigation, and family members of the affected crew have also travelled to Fiji.

The Ministry of Tourism and the Police are expected to release a statement soon.

Police are currently investigating the case of alleged theft and rape of two Australian airline crew members after clubbing at one of the nightclubs in Martintar, Nadi.

Acting Police Commissioner, Juki Fong Chew has confirmed to fijivillage News that investigations continue and it is alleged that locals are the suspects.

7News Melbourne is reporting that three Virgin Australia crew members have been involved in an incident in Fiji after their aircraft landed at Nadi Airport.

They have been told that those three crew members have been separated into their hotel rooms in Nadi until further notice.

A senior management team from Virgin Airlines has been sent from Australia over to Fiji to investigate and family members of the crew members themselves have also been flown over.

A Virgin spokesman confirmed an incident to 7News but won't reveal details, saying that their focus right now is on the welfare of the crew.

A replacement crew has now been dispatched to Fiji to fly that original plane home.