BY JESSICA ROUSE

A Jetstar flight was delayed 32 minutes at Newcastle airport yesterday afternoon after a passenger tried to take a machete on board.

A 500mm machete was found in a 31-year-old Mayfield man’s bag when he passed through security at the airport at about 5:50pm.

The flight headed to Melbourne was meant to leave at 6:30pm, and didn’t take off until just after 7pm last night.

The man was arrested and taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station where he was charged with a Commonwealth offense of unlawfully carrying a prohibited item.

He was granted bail and will appear in Raymond Terrace court in January, 2018.