A 23-year-old Australian bodybuilder has been slammed after filming himself performing push-ups inside a moving jet engine at Sydney Airport — a stunt that’s since landed him in court and sparked outrage online.
Fitness influencer and former baggage handler Preslie Ginoski posted the clip to TikTok under the caption “Quick pump before flight”, showing him shirtless and flexing as the propellers whirled behind him. The post quickly went viral before being deleted from the platform for violating community guidelines.
The video — reportedly shot in June last year but recirculated more recently — shows Ginoski climbing inside the plane’s turbine and dropping to the ground for a few push-ups before striking a pose. He later told followers, per The Sun: “I just wanted people to get a laugh about it […] Like it’s as if I’ve just got off the plane and I’m going to work out.”
Viewers were less than impressed. One Facebook user commented: “Stupid move — it wouldn’t take much for that engine to turn him into mince meat.” Another wrote: “The moment where starting the engine would also become quite famous on TikTok…”
Sydney Airport officials and police, however, found nothing funny about the stunt.
In a statement to MailOnline Australia, a spokesperson said: “Sydney Airport has zero tolerance for unsafe behaviour on the airfield, and we take all reports of potential safety breaches extremely seriously. The safety of passengers, airport workers, and airport operations is our highest priority, and we have strict protocols in place to ensure compliance with all safety policies. We will take appropriate action based on the findings of the investigation.”
That action eventually came. Ginoski appeared in Downing Centre Local Court this week, pleading guilty to threatening aviation safety and failing to wear a safety lanyard in a secure area. Magistrate Greg Grogin didn’t hold back, calling him “stupid, vain and irresponsible” while noting the consequences “could have been catastrophic” if debris had entered the engine.
“He took off his top, he took off his required security badges and decided to show off his body,” Grogin said. “I am really at a loss as to what motivates people to do such things. You chose the wrong day, the wrong thing to do and the wrong memento.”
Ginoski was convicted on both charges and fined $2,400.
Despite the court’s verdict, Ginoski has continued to defend himself. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, he explained: “The plane was parked on bay and wasn’t moving until the next day.”
He added: “A lot of people have missed the fact that it was totally safe. There’s a lot of confusion about the fact that it was moving in the wind. Flight attendants and pilots always sit in the engines, it’s just because they’re taking photos that the turbines look stable. But it’s very common for people to sit inside the jet engine if it is cleared and safe to do so.”
Ginoski said he filmed the clip while employed at the airport and only shared it after leaving his job. His lawyer, Ahmed Dib, told the court that Ginoski was following a “social media fad,” with multiple videos on his phone showing similar behaviour. Dib also argued that the stunt had cost his client dearly — including losing a construction cadetship and facing backlash at university.
Magistrate Grogin wasn’t swayed: “He put [the target] there,” he replied.
Outside court, Ginoski laughed off the media attention, joking: “Thank God the engine had been off.” He told reporters he didn’t regret the video and was “looking forward to a holiday in Europe in July.”
AFP Sydney Airport Police Commander Davina Copelin warned the incident was a serious breach:
“The AFP remains committed to the safety and security of all major Australian airports, irrespective of the crime type.
“Airside security zones are highly regulated and secure areas, and the AFP will not tolerate breaches which may compromise the safe operations of the airport, no matter how harmless they may seem.”
Sydney Airport’s head of security Graham White echoed that sentiment: “The safety of passengers, airport staff and airport operations is our top priority. We commend the swift response by the AFP and will continue to work closely with them to ensure the highest standards of safety are maintained.”
What started as a supposed joke for social media ended in fines, job loss, and a criminal record. For Ginoski, the “quick pump before flight” may have earned him millions of views — but it also made him a headline for all the wrong reasons.
Featured image credit: Instagram/whoisprez/YouTube/10News (screenshot)
