Passenger tries to enter cockpit with ‘bomb’, forces flight to land

Authorities said a Sri Lankan passenger claimed he was carrying a bomb, but it turned out to be a powerbank. Flight MH128, which took off for Kuala Lumpur from Melbourne, had to return soon after take off.

Malaysia Airlines said its Flight MH128 from Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur returned to Melbourne shortly after take off late on Wednesday due to a disruptive passenger. Authorities said the passenger claimed he was carrying a bomb.

The Malaysia Airlines aircraft landed safely at Melbourne airport and was sent to a remote bay where the passenger was apprehended by airport security. (Reuters file/ representational image only)

“It is not a hijack. One disruptive passenger tried to enter the plane’s cockpit,” said Malaysia deputy transport minister Abdul Aziz bin Kaprawi.

“The passenger, a Sri Lankan national, claimed to have a bomb. But it was not a bomb but a powerbank,” he added.

The aircraft landed safely at Melbourne airport and was sent to a remote bay where the passenger was apprehended by airport security, the airline said.

MH128 returned to Melbourne “after the operating captain was alerted by a cabin crew of a passenger attempting to enter the cockpit”, the airline said in a statement.

The flight departed Melbourne Airport at 2311 local time and returned at 2341, Malaysia Airlines said.