A Malaysia Airlines flight MH128 flying from Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur was forced to make an emergency landing at 11pm on Wednesday after a passenger attempted to enter the cockpit and hijack the plane while in the air.
The man was later overwhelmed by passengers in the plane, and he was subdued and pin to the ground. Images of the man pinned to the floor, and held by a makeshift handcuff have been shared on social media.
According to a passenger named Vanessa, who with her husband, Andrew was on the flight while speaking to 3AW radio station said that the man threatened to detonate explosives inside the flight, when he then tried to run to different parts of the plane, he was then tackled to the floor by the other passengers in the flight.
The plane made an emergency landing after the man was tackled to the floor, and later sat on the tarmac for more than 2 hrs. Armed guard later invaded the plane and detained the culprit inside the flight.
All flights from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport were grounded, and every other incoming flights were all directed to the nearest Avalon airport, far away from Tasmania.
Malaysia airline confirmed the incident and released a statement, that reads;
Malaysia Airlines flight MH128 of 31 May from Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur was forced to turn back to Melbourne due to a disruptive passenger.
MH128 departed Melbourne Airport at 11.11pm and was to arrive Kuala Lumpur at 5.28am on 1 June made a turn back to Melbourne after the operating Captain was alerted by a cabin crew of a passenger attempting to enter the cockpit.
MH128 safely landed in Melbourne Airport at 11.41pm. The aircraft is currently on the remote bay and waiting for security assistance to arrive at the aircraft.