In video captured by The Australian’s Liam Mendes on Thursday, Mr Costello can be seen walking through the airport’s arrivals terminal as he ignored repeated questions about sexual harassment claims made against Nine’s former news boss Darren Wick.
About one minute after Mr Mendes introduces himself, Nine’s chairman appears to rush the journalist, knocking him to the ground before apparently smiling and walking away.
“You’ve just assaulted me,” Mr Mendes can be heard saying.
One witness told The Australian, he saw Mr Costello “flying” toward the reporter, adding Nine’s chairman was much larger than he had realised.
“I just saw this guy attack… and then I saw him (Mendes) on the floor with his shit everywhere and then he (Costello) just went on his way, wandered off,” the witness said.
“F*king big bloke, I didn’t realise how big he was. He was flying through like a sumo wrestler.”
Prior to the altercation, Mr Mendes had attempted to press Mr Costello on the future of Nine’s CEO Mike Sneesby, asking if he was aware of the allegations against Mr Wick prior to the former news boss leaving the company.
Nine’s chairman also failed to answer why he had so far refused to publicly back Mr Sneesby.
The Australian reported it is understood both Nine’s chair and CEO were aware of the allegations against Mr Wick prior to his departure from the media company, but inside sources insist Mr Costello did not know about Mr Sneesby’s decision to authorise a controversial $1 million settlement with the former news boss.
Despite being knocked off his feet during the opening stage of their encounter, Mr Mendes continued to pursue Nine’s chairman, pressing him on whether he had the backing of the board and asking why he refused to answer questions.
“Journalists who work for Nine approach people in this manner every day,” he said.
“Is that behaviour really appropriate to a journalist who’s working?”
More to come.