The Fiji government says police are investigating incidents involving two crew members of Virgin Australia allegedly the victims of rape and theft in Nadi early on New Year's Day.
The crew members were in the popular tourist destination on a layover before they were supposed to fly off the following day, Acting Commissioner of Police Juki Fong Chew said in a statement on Thursday.
The Australian airline, which said it was aware of the incident, has sent people to Fiji to provide support. It did not provide further details of the incident in a statement to Reuters.
Police said the investigation so far had found some Virgin crew members had gone to a nightclub in Nadi.
"Unfortunately, two of the crew members were victims of an alleged theft and rape after exiting the nite club trying to find their way back to the hotel," said Chew, adding that the investigation is continuing.
The Fiji Sun earlier said three staff had been attacked, AAP reported.
In a statement Viliame Gavoka, deputy prime minister and minister for tourism and civil aviation, clarified that these were two separate incidents of alleged theft and sexual assault affecting two different Virgin crew members.
Gavoka expressed regret over the alleged incidents and said that a suspect known to police for the alleged sexual assault had been questioned and that the investigation was ongoing.
The South Pacific island nation of Fiji is a popular tourist destination and received 76,845 visitors in the month of November, mostly from Australia, New Zealand and North America, according to the country's tourism website.
Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told Reuters it was aware of the reports but declined to comment further.
