MAS flight from Melbourne to KL diverted due to 'disruptive passenger'

PETALING JAYA: A Malaysia Airlines flight from Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur has been diverted back to Melbourne because of a "disruptive passenger" Wednesday night.

Updated: Kaprawi: MAS flight was not hijacked, just a drunk, disruptive passenger

MAS flight MH128 took off from Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport at 11.11pm (local time) and was to arrive Kuala Lumpur at 5.28am (Malaysian time).

The flight turned back about 20 minutes later and landed safely at 11.41pm.

A MAS statement said the flight turned back to Melbourne "after the operating Captain was alerted by a cabin crew of a passenger attempting to enter the cockpit".

Safety and security are of Malaysia Airlines' utmost priority, the statement reiterated.

"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 concluded.

Live air traffic tracker service, @Flightradar24, also tweeted about the incident: "Because of the security incident on flight #MH128 flights bound for Melbourne Airport are now diverting to other airports."

Here is the airline's statement in full:

Malaysia Airlines flight MH128 of 31 May from Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur was forced to turn back to Melbourne due to a disruptive passenger.

MH128 departed Melbourne Airport at 11.11pm and was to arrive Kuala Lumpur at 5.28am on 1 June made a turn back to Melbourne after the operating Captain was alerted by a cabin crew of a passenger attempting to enter the cockpit.

Safety and security are of Malaysia Airlines' utmost priority.

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.