A Monday Malaysia Airlines flight returned to Sydney Airport in Australia due to alleged security concerns, according to a Fox News report.
The captain of Malaysia Airlines flight MH122, from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur, made the decision to turn back due to safety precautions.
Australian authorities reportedly detained a 45-year-old man after the plane touched down in Sydney.
“My name is Mohammed and I am a slave of Allah,” a man may be heard saying in a video from another passenger on the Malaysia Airline flight.
Muhammad Arif, 45, of Canberra, allegedly became disruptive aboard MH122 which departed Sydney about 1 p.m., according to an ABC Australian report.
Fellow passenger Velutha Parambath said the man started getting up and pushing passengers about 30 minutes after the plane departed Sydney.
“He started getting a little violent, and he was preaching,” Mr. Parambath said, “talking about his religious views.”
“He was wearing something on his hand and whenever he was talking to the crew, he was like ‘I’m not afraid of dying and, you know, I’ve got things with me,’ and so I think that’s probably what scared people off.”
Arif reportedly appeared in court after allegedly claiming to have explosives on board.
“During the flight, a male passenger allegedly became disruptive and claimed to have explosives on board,” Australian Federal Police said in a statement.
Arif was charged with giving a false threat about damaging an aircraft and not complying with cabin crew safety instructions, according to the report.
Magistrate Greg Grogin at the Downing Centre Local Court presided over Arif’s case Tuesday morning, the report noted.
Grogin explained Arif was not in court because he refused to leave his cell to appear before the hearing via video link. Arif reportedly refused several offers to appear, according to the ABC report.
Arif’s lawyer, Mostafa Daoudie, requested a mental health assessment be conducted on his client, explaining he was informed of “serious mental health issues,” adding he had been unable to speak directly to his client.
“My principal had a conference with Mr Arif this morning he didn’t seem to understand the charges that were before the court,” Daoudie reportedly told the court. “He’s not in the right state of mind.”
The incident had a ripple effect, causing a number of flight cancellations and schedule changes at Sydney Airport.
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