Scary incident on board a passenger plane right after takeoff from Melbourne, Australia

Summary

A passenger plane departing from Melbourne, Australia, faced a security threat when a man claimed to have a bomb and attempted to rush the cockpit. The crew alerted the captain, and passengers intervened, overpowering the man. The plane made an emergency landing back in Melbourne, where heavily armed security forces took control. The suspect, believed to have a history of mental illness, was detained, and passengers were accommodated for the night, with plans to resume their journey to Malaysia the next day.

Takeaways

• 🚨 An incident occurred on a passenger plane shortly after takeoff from Melbourne, Australia.
• 🛫 The plane was a Malaysian Airlines jetliner.
• 🏃‍♂️ A man attempted to rush the cockpit, claiming to have a bomb.
• 🔍 Airport security in Australia responded swiftly and heavily armed.
• 🤝 The man was overpowered by other passengers before security could intervene.
• 🛂 The pilot was informed of the situation and prepared to land for security checks.
• 🔎 Upon landing, security officers carried out an investigation, including checking a device that was found.
• 🔋 The device turned out to be a power pack, not an explosive as initially claimed.
• 👮‍♂️ Authorities suggest the suspect may have a history of mental illness.
• 🛌 Passengers were accommodated for the night and were to continue their flight to Malaysia the following day.

Q & A

What happened on the passenger plane after takeoff from Melbourne?

A man claimed to have a bomb and rushed the cockpit on a plane that had just taken off from Melbourne, Australia.

Who was the reporter covering the incident?

ABC's David Curley reported on the incident.

How did the airport security respond to the incident?

Australian airport security responded by quickly carrying the hog-tied passenger off the jetliner.

What was the crew's reaction when they learned of the passenger trying to breach the cockpit?

The Malaysian Airlines crew informed the captain about the passenger trying to breach the cockpit door.

What did the pilot report to the air traffic controllers?

The pilot reported to the controllers that a passenger was trying to enter the cockpit, claiming to have an explosive device.

How was the man claiming to have a bomb ultimately handled?

The man was overpowered by other passengers on the flight.

What was the nature of the device the man claimed to have?

The device was apparently some kind of power pack.

Where did the plane return after the incident?

The plane returned to Melbourne about half an hour after taking off.

How did security officers handle the situation upon the plane's return?

Security officers were barking commands to passengers upon the plane's return to Melbourne.

What was the suggestion regarding the suspect's mental health?

It was suggested by the police that the suspect may have a history of mental illness.

What was the arrangement made for the passengers affected by the incident?

Passengers were put up for the night and were to continue their flight to Malaysia the following day.