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Malaysia Airlines plane turns back after cockpit entry bid Malaysia Airlines plane turns back after cockpit entry bid
(about 2 hours later)
A Malaysia Airlines plane has been forced to turn back to Melbourne airport after a passenger tried to enter the cockpit.A Malaysia Airlines plane has been forced to turn back to Melbourne airport after a passenger tried to enter the cockpit.
Flight MH128, bound for Kuala Lumpur, was forced to return "due to a disruptive passenger", a statement from the airline said. Flight MH128, bound for Kuala Lumpur, returned "due to a disruptive passenger", an airline statement said.
The airline said that the flight landed safely and the passenger was apprehended. The flight landed safely and the passenger was arrested, police said, adding it was not terror-related.
The passenger reportedly claimed to have explosives. Police said he threatened passengers with a device, but authorities "quickly ascertained" it was not an explosive.
But Malaysia's Deputy Transport Minister Abdul Aziz bin Kaprawi said "it was not a bomb but a powerbank", according to the AFP agency. Malaysia's Deputy Transport Minister Abdul Aziz bin Kaprawi said it was a "powerbank", or mobile charger, according to the AFP agency.
The passenger appeared to be drunk, he said - but was overpowered by the plane's crew.The passenger appeared to be drunk, he said - but was overpowered by the plane's crew.
Victoria Police said a 25-year-old Australian citizen was being interviewed by police and was expected to face charges.
The Melbourne man had a history of mental illness, they said.
'Idiot''Idiot'
An eyewitness calling himself Andy told Melbourne's 3AW radio station that 10 minutes into the flight "I could hear this idiot saying that he wanted to go in to see the pilot". One eyewitness, Andrew Leoncelli, told Melbourne's 3AW radio station that 10 minutes into the flight "I could hear this idiot saying that he wanted to go in to see the pilot".
The man refused to sit down, and threatened to "blow the plane up", he said. The man refused to sit down, and threatened to "blow the plane up", said Mr Leoncelli, a former professional Australian Rules football player.
"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 staff screamed out 'I need some help, I need some help'. So I jumped up, undid my buckle, and approached him," he said.
He said the man ran down the plane towards the back, but was grabbed and disarmed of a black object "the size of a watermelon" which had two antennae and what appeared to be a smartphone input. Mr Leoncelli said the man ran down the plane towards the back, but was grabbed and disarmed of a black object "the size of a watermelon" which had two antennae and what appeared to be a smartphone input.
The man was restrained in hog ties, but the object remained on the plane for over an hour until passengers were allowed to leave, he added.The man was restrained in hog ties, but the object remained on the plane for over an hour until passengers were allowed to leave, he added.
Victoria Police said: "The man did not gain entry to the cockpit. The man was subdued and a safety plan was enacted." Malaysia Airlines said the Airbus A330 was in the air for just 30 minutes of its eight-hour flight time before landing.
"There appears to be no imminent threat to passengers, staff or public." Heavily armed police boarded the plane just before midnight local time (14:00 GMT) and placed the man under arrest.
Passengers have safely left the plane and will be screened by Australian authorities, Malaysia Airlines said. "We are obviously concerned for the passengers and crew," said Victoria Police Superintendent Tony Langdon.
Both the airline and Australian authorities will investigate, it added. "It would have been a very traumatic experience for them."
The statement from Malaysia Airlines said the Airbus A330 was in the air for just 30 minutes of its eight-hour flight time before landing. Passengers safely left the plane and were speaking with investigators. Both the airline and Australian authorities will investigate, Malaysia Airlines said.
Flight tracking website FlightRadar24 reported that a number of flights had been diverted while the incident was being dealt with, but that the airport is now operating as normal. A number of flights were diverted following the incident, but the airport confirmed it was operating as normal.
Were you on board the Malaysian Airlines plane that returned to Melbourne? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Were you on board the Malaysian Airlines plane that returned to Melbourne? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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