MAS flight turns back after passenger tries to enter cockpit

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight MH128 was forced to return to Melbourne Airport after a passenger attempted to enter the aircraft's cockpit.

MAS in a statement confirmed the incident involving a "disruptive passenger".

"MH128 departed Melbourne Airport at 11.11pm and was to arrive Kuala Lumpur at 5.28am on June 1 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," it said in a statement tonight.

MAS stressed that the safety and security are the airline's utmost priority.

Meanwhile, flight tracking service flightradar24 said the security incident caused flights into Melbourne Airport to be diverted.

Some of the affected flights were Qantas Freight Flight QF7395, Cobham Aviation Flight JTE7445 and Toll Aviation Flight VA9560.

According to the tracking website, Flight QF7395 and Flight JTE7445 were diverted to Avalon Airport in Melbourne while Flight VA9560 was diverted to Launceston Airport in Tasmania.

Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai in a Twitter posting acknowledged the incident.

"MAS Flight MH128 from Melbourne to KL has landed safely after being forced to turn back due to a disruptive passenger attempting to enter flight deck," he said.

According to Australia-based SBS World News, the passenger was holding an electronic device but it was not a bomb.

The passenger was reportedly tackled by 11 other passengers.

MAS in an updated statement said the aircraft was "at no point hijacked".

It added that the offending passenger was arrested after the aircraft landed.

"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.

"Passengers have safely disembarked the aircraft and will be screened by Australian authorities," it said.

MAS also apologised for the inconvenience arising from the incident.

"The affected passengers will be accommodated at hotels. They will be offered on the next available flight or on other carriers," it said.

Deputy Transport Minister Aziz Ab Kaprawi was quoted by The Star Online as saying that the disruptive passenger was drunk.

"Malaysia Airlines practises a high level of security and safety, so they turned back.

"The crew managed to handle the passenger and once they landed, they contacted airport security to have the passenger removed.

"I have no information yet as to whether the plane will be taking off again soon, but it is believed that the suspect is a Sri Lankan national and that he was drunk," he was quoted as saying.- Mkini