Malaysia Airlines flight turns around after bomb threat

On August 14th, Australian Police arrested a 45-year-old man travelling onboard the flight, but stated there was no threat.

Image: Noah Stohr-Waldren

Malaysia Airlines flight MH122 left Sydney Airport at 1.40pm for an eight-hour flight to Kuala Lumpur. However, landed back on the runway at 3.47pm.

According to a report by Nine News, an individual claiming to be on board the aircraft tweeted that someone was "endangering both the crew and fellow passengers." A passenger carrying a backpack had allegedly made threats to "detonate the plane." Crew had checked the backpack and found no explosives, it added.

"Passengers were reportedly evacuated from the aircraft while remaining at the end of the runway after landing in Sydney. An Australian Federal Police (AFP) spokesperson reassured that there is currently no imminent danger to the community. "The man is expected to be charged later tonight."

Image: unknown

A video reportedly taken onboard the flight shows a man with a black backpack telling a member of the flight crew: "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?"

Where is Airport security?! Its been well over an hour since the plane has landed back!!! a passenger wrote on Twitter.

A passenger told NCA NewsWire the man began threatening people to not "touch his bag". "He was making threats while carrying a bag," they reported. "He chanted 'Allah Akbar,' and when the staff attempted to calm him, he warned them not to approach him, or he would detonate the bomb in his bag."

Screenshot from FlightRadar24

A spokesperson for Sydney Airport informed Guardian Australia, "We are presently assisting emergency agencies in handling a situation at the airport."

The airport is operational with flights arriving and departing. The spokesperson advised passengers to contact their airline directly for updates on their flight status.