Cops storm plane after man forces U-turn

A man who forced a Malaysia Airlines plane to make a dramatic turn back to Sydney International Airport after he became unruly and made references to Islam has been arrested.

The MH122 Airbus-a330 flight to Kuala Lumpur was diverted back to Sydney and was isolated on the tarmac with AFP officers called to the emergency just before 4pm on Monday.

An AFP spokeswoman said a 45-year-old man had been arrested on board the plane “without incident”.

“A passenger on an international flight from Sydney to Malaysia has been arrested by the AFP,” the spokeswoman said.

“There is no impending threat to the community.

“The man is expected to be charged later tonight.”

A video of a man on-board the flight showed him talking to a member of the flight crew.

The man, who had a black backpack close by, was heard in the video saying: “My name is Mohammed, slave of Allah.”

“Are you a slave of Allah? Are you? Say it. Say it! Are you a slave of Allah?” the man continued, seemingly asking a flight attendant.

The flight attendant can then be heard replying: “Yes I am”.

The flight was forced to return to Sydney Airport just before 4pm on Monday.

Pictures taken from inside the plane just before 7pm showed officers storming the flight before the man was arrested.

Malaysia Airlines said the flight was carrying 199 passengers and 12 crew on Monday.

The passengers won’t be able to fly to their preferred destination of Kuala Lumpur, with many expected to miss connecting flights as a result of the delay.

“In the interest of safety, the commander of the flight made a decision to return to Sydney,” the airline said.

“The disruptive passenger has now been detained by local police.

“The aircraft will be thoroughly inspected by the police.

“Passengers will be transferred to the next available flights after obtaining clearance from the authorities.

“Malaysia Airlines wishes to thank the authorities for their immediate response and to passengers for remaining calm and cooperative during the ordeal.

“The safety and comfort of our crew and passengers are of utmost importance to Malaysia Airlines.”

Passengers were finally allowed to disembark shortly about 7pm, three hours after the plane made the emergency landing.

“Passengers have now been evacuated from the aircraft,” an AFP spokeswoman said.

“The AFP will not divulge operational matters, however, an emergency response plan was enacted and an evacuation was initiated once it was deemed safe for passengers and crew.”

A passenger said those on board were being made to wait at a departure gate inside the terminal, and food had been handed out.

It’s understood passengers were told to not take anything from the plane except their passports.

Video posted while passengers were still on board waiting for police to arrive showed a man kneeling in the aisle of the aircraft.

Earlier, another passenger said all travellers had been moved to the back of the plane, which remained on the international taxiway, as fire trucks surrounded the aircraft.

He told NCA NewsWire that the man allegedly began threatening people to not “touch his bag”.

“He was threatening people that he has a bag,” Mr Zubair said.

Another passenger posted the video of the man saying: “Sydney Airport is suffering at the hands of this lunatic.”

“Praying for everyone’s safety and well being. Where is airport security?! It’s been well over an hour since the plane has landed back!!!,” the passenger wrote.

In a second video another traveller said: “This lunatic is getting aggressive and poor people on board are still waiting for security to get in and take him to Allah through the right process”.

It’s not the first time Malaysian Airlines has been in the headlines.

On March 8, 2014, Malaysia Airlines flight 370 disappeared without a trace with 227 passengers and 12 crew on board. The plane has never been found despite extensive searches.

A couple of months later, on July 17, MH17 en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down over Ukraine with the loss of all on board.

Russian separatists have been blamed for the atrocity. Last year, the District Court of The Hague found three members of Russia’s proxy forces in eastern Ukraine guilty for their roles in the downing of the plane.

A passenger on board the Sydney flight on Monday said everyone appeared to be fine.

“Everyone on the flight is OK, although understandably shaken,” she said.

“The captain just came on (saying) airport authorities have finally said we can disembark.

“No idea what happens after that. Lots of folk were supposed to be getting connecting flights from (Kuala Lumpur).”

Sydney Airport said some flights were still arriving and departing from the major airport but urged passengers to check directly with their airline for further updates.

“We are currently supporting emergency agencies in the management on an incident at the airport,” Sydney Airport said about 5.30pm on Monday.

“The airport is operational with flights arriving and departing.

“Passengers are encouraged to check directly with their airline regarding the status of their flight.”