Comedian and television presenter Wil Anderson has been released without charge following his arrest at a regional NSW airport, saying it was based on a misunderstanding.
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The 43-year-old was arrested on Saturday afternoon after police were called to the regional NSW airport over a "disruptive passenger" and was held for several hours before being released to perform at Wagga Wagga Civic Centre.
Anderson told reporters outside the show he was "confident and happy that the whole thing was based on a misunderstanding and I think we're going to sort it all out".
"I have a sore back and I was up and about pacing and there was a misinterpretation of my intentions in my pacing - I was just trying to stretch out my back," Anderson, who has osteoarthritis, said in a video shared by Win News Riverina.
An audience member at the sold-out show, Darren Carr, said Anderson was in good spirits when he took to the stage but it was also clear he was in pain.
"He's hurt his back. He said his back's all strapped up and you can see it in the way he's walking as well," Mr Carr said.
A Qantas spokeswoman said a passenger was met by police on arrival after "behaving disruptively and refusing to follow crew instructions".
"To ensure all of our flights are safe and comfortable for our passengers we don't tolerate disruptive behaviour onboard," she said in a statement.
EARLIER:
Comedian Wil Anderson has been arrested after allegedly being disruptive on board a flight that was bound for Wagga.
Police were called to Wagga airport just after 4pm on Saturday following reports that a 43-year-old male passenger had caused a disturbance during a flight from Sydney.
Anderson, the host of the popular ABC program The Gruen Transfer was reportedly arrested by police as he left the aircraft.
Anderson took aim at Qantas late Saturday afternoon, tweeting: "A big f*** you to the crew at Qantas for their no help today. Sorry Wagga if I can't walk when I get off the plane today."
He was due to perform his comedy show Critically Wil at 7.30pm on Saturday night at Wagga's Civic Theatre.
A decade ago, Anderson was diagnosed with osteoathritis, a condition that reportedly leaves the comedian in a near constant state of pain, and makes it difficult for him to disembark from planes.
"Sometimes I'm going to get off a plane and I won't be able to walk for a while", he told Mamamia in March.
At the time, he told the news outlet that his osteoathritis had often caused him "excruciating pain", which led to days where he "couldn't do anything".
Despite the hold-up at the airport, Fairfax Media understands that Anderson's comedy show has gone ahead as planned.
Anderson hit the stage at 7.30pm.
More to come.
EARLIER:
Comedian Wil Anderson was arrested at Wagga Airport after he was allegedly disruptive on a flight from Sydney to Wagga.
He was on his way to the city for his show at the Civic Theatre tonight.
Police confirmed a 43-year-old man was arrested when he got off the plane just before 4pm for incidents relating to what happened on and around the flight.
He was taken to Wagga Police Station where he assisted police with their inquiries before he was released in time for his show.