A Malaysian Airlines flight from Melbourne was forced to turn back after a man made bomb threats onboard and attempted to enter the cockpit.
According to media reports, including the ABC, Flight MH128 left Melbourne for Kuala Lumpur around 11pm, but shortly after take-off, a 25-year-old Dandenong man tried to enter the cockpit, claiming to have a bomb.
Former AFL player Andrew Leoncelli told the ABC he was near the front of the plane and saw the man carrying a big object head for the front of the plane.
“I ran to the front and confronted him around the corner and he was there,” Leoncelli told ABC.
“He was a tall guy, taller than me with a beanie on, wearing dark clothing, dark skin, carrying a giant thing, a very strange-looking thing with antennas coming off it, saying, ‘I’m going to blow the plane up, I’m going to f*ckng blow the plane up’.”
Leoncelli said the man ran to the back of the plane, where he was overpowered by other passengers and crew who proceeded to tie him to a seat.
“Staff grabbed the object, which we’re not sure what it was, he was claiming to blow the plane up with, and walked it back to the front of the plane,” he told the publication.
Once back in Melbourne, the plane was parked in a remote bay, while the entire Tullamarine airport was closed overnight due to the threat.
Melbourne Airport released a statement this morning saying, “Melbourne Airport has resumed normal operations on both runways.
“Travellers heading to the airport today are advised that there may still be some further delays this morning as airport operations are returned to normal. Travellers with specific flight enquiries should contact their airlines directly for the most up-to-date information.
“Victoria Police remains the best point of contact for enquiries related to the incident.”
Heavily armed police wearing helmets and holding rifles stormed onto the plane once it landed in Melbourne to detain the man.
Armed Police are on board flight #MH128 at Melbourne Airport ⚠ pic.twitter.com/yaDbEVi3wS
— Flight Alerts ⚠ (@FlightAlerts777) May 31, 2017
Victoria Police later said the incident was not being treated as terrorism and that the object the man was holding – that he claimed was a bomb – was in fact a harmless device, however it hasn’t been revealed what the object actually was.
Per the ABC, the man was known to have a history of mental illness, with other reports claiming police revealed he’d just checked out of a voluntary stint in a psychiatric facility yesterday.
Victoria Police chief commissioner Graham Ashton said the alleged offender purchased his ticket after being released from the facility and then boarded the plane.
“We do not believe this is terrorist-related,” Victoria Police Superintendent Tony Langdon said, per ABC.
“We are obviously concerned for the passengers and crew. It would have been a very traumatic experience for them. I would say that it would have been quite heroic for the crew and passengers to restrain this person.”
“I thought the plane was going to go down, I thought the bomb was going to go off, I really did think I was going to die.”
With regards to passengers on the plane, who were interviewed by police, Superintendent Langdon said, “They’d be very concerned. They’re tired.
“They’ve had their plans disrupted. I can’t praise them highly enough. They’ve been wonderful in their co-operation with us and we just hope that they have a wonderful journey after this.”
MH128 IS OFFICIALLY GROUNDED AT MELBOURNE AIRPORT
Passengers have safely disembarked the plane & will be screened by Australian authorities. pic.twitter.com/8tseDTslYH— Ery Rahim (@EryRahim) May 31, 2017
Superintendent Langdon also claimed security measures at the airport were appropriate, and the device was “for all intents and purposes… something that everybody would be carrying around on a daily basis”. He wouldn’t go into any further detail, just saying it was an “electronic device”.
“It was quite quickly ascertained it wasn’t an explosive device,” he said.
Per ABC, Federal Transport Minister Darren Chester also backed Melbourne Airport’s security systems.
“From the early reports I have received from the Office of Transport Security, the screening equipment was in place and working at the time,” he said.
“100 per cent of passengers and baggage are screened before a flight takes off.
“Let’s wait and see what the details of the alleged device is and was and go from there.”
Malaysia Airlines also issued a statement this morning about the incident, stressing at no point was the plane “hijacked”.
“MH128, which had departed Melbourne Airport at 11.11 pm and was scheduled 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 member of a passenger attempting to enter the cockpit,” the statement said.
“Malaysia Airlines would like to stress that at no point was the aircraft ‘hijacked’. MH128 safely landed in Melbourne airport at 11.41pm.
“Following the incident on MH128, the disruptive passenger has been apprehended by airport security. Malaysia Airlines together with the Australian authorities will be investigating the incident.
“Safety and security are of utmost priority to Malaysia Airlines. The airline wishes to apologise for the inconvenience caused.
“Passengers have safely disembarked the aircraft and will be screened by Australian authorities.
“Affected passengers will be accommodated at hotels. They will be offered travel on the next available flight or on other carriers.”
Image: Twitter – Saroki19
