Melbourne: Armed police stormed a Malaysia Airlines flight which was forced to return to Melbourne after a passenger tried to enter the cockpit, claiming he had a bomb, officials said on Thursday.
The Sri Lankan student who tried to enter the airline cockpit with what he said was a bomb before terrified passengers overpowered him, had been released from psychiatric care just before boarding the plane, Australian police said on Thursday.
Malaysian deputy transport minister Abdul Aziz Kaprawi said the Sri Lankan national was overpowered by the plane’s crew and later arrested.
“It is not a hijack. One disruptive passenger tried to enter the plane’s cockpit,” he said. “The passenger... claimed to have a bomb. But it was not a bomb but a powerbank,” Mr Aziz said. “Everyone on board is safe... He was taken out of the plane handcuffed by Australian security officers.”
Kuala Lumpur-bound Flight MH128 left Melbourne at 11:11 pm on Wednesday but turned back shortly afterwards when a man allegedly threatened those on board.
“It is alleged that a man tried to enter the cockpit and threatened the safety of passengers and staff,” Victoria state police said, but added that he “did not gain entry to the cockpit” and was subdued.
