Virgin Australia crew members allegedly raped and robbed in Fiji

Authorities in Fiji are investigating allegations that one crew member of Virgin Australia was sexually assaulted and that another was robbed during New Year’s Eve celebrations in the tourist hotspot of Nadi, the Fijian government said on Thursday.

The two separate incidents are said to have happened in the early hours of Wednesday morning after the Australian airline’s crew members left a nightclub in Nadi, according to police and officials in the South Pacific island nation.

“These alleged incidents are regrettable,” Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka said in a statement. “Our thoughts and concerns are with (the alleged victims) and for their health and wellbeing.”

A suspect known to Fijian police has been questioned over the alleged sexual assault and investigations are ongoing, according to the country’s tourism and aviation ministry.

Virgin Australia said it was aware of the alleged incidents and had sent staff to provide support to the crew members. The Australian government has not publicly commented.

The crew members had been on an overnight layover when the alleged incidents took place, and are now staying in a local hotel. They are expected to return home by the end of the week, Gavoka said.

“Regrettably, incidents like this can happen anywhere and Fiji is not immune,” he said. “We, as always, remind tourists to exercise caution in nightclub areas and late at night.”

Fiji welcomed nearly 77,000 tourists in November — mainly from Australia, New Zealand and the US — according to the latest statistics from the nation’s tourism website.

Australia’s official travel advice tells its citizens to exercise normal safety precautions in Fiji — the lowest of the government’s four risk ratings for people travelling abroad.