Lankan passenger’s bomb threat disrupts Malaysia airlines flight.

A Malaysia Airlines flight was forced to return to Melbourne airport on Wednesday after a passenger tried to force his way into the cockpit claiming he had a bomb, offcials said.

“Everyone on board is safe… He was taken out of the plane handcuffed by Australian security officers.” Kuala Lumpur-bound Flight MH128 departed Melbourne at 11:11pm (1311 GMT) on Wednesday but turned back shortly afterwards when a man allegedly threatened those on board, Australian police said.

“It is alleged that a man tried to enter the cockpit and threatened the safety of passengers and staff,” Victoria state police said in a statement, but added that he “did not gain entry to the cockpit” and was subdued.

A passenger sitting in business class, who identified himself as Andy, told Melbourne commercial radio station 3AW the man threatened to “blow the plane up”.

“The staff were saying ‘Sit back down sir, sit back down sir’. He goes ‘No, I’m not going to sit back down, I’m going to blow the plane up’,” Andy told 3AW.

“The staff screamed out ‘I need some help, I need some help’. So I jumped up, undid my buckle, and approached him.” Andy said the man ran to the back of the plane, where two other men grabbed and disarmed him of a “giant black thing” and “put hog ties on him”.

Marks was arrested yesterday after causing a bomb scare on board MAS flight MH128 which was flying from Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur. The rest of the passengers were deboarded.

(Reuters)