Man arrested over alleged bomb hoax on flight

A man who claimed a bomb was found on a plane bound for Malaysia as it prepared to take off at one of Australia’s busiest airports will appear in court.

On Sunday, AFP officers at Sydney Airport responded to an alleged bomb threat and arrested a man on a Turkish Airlines flight from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur.

The plane was preparing for takeoff on the taxiway when a crew member asked the man about the electrical equipment he was holding.

It was claimed that the passenger had a bomb in his hand.

The captain told police the object appeared to be a wireless phone charger.

The passengers sitting next to the man were relocated as a precaution before police boarded the plane and arrested him.

The 44-year-old Montenegrin citizen is expected to appear in court on Tuesday, accused of threatening aviation security.

AFP Detective Superintendent Davina Copelin said bomb threats were always incredibly serious.

Det Supt Copelin said: “What some people might consider a joke could cause serious disruption, triggering emergency responses and diverting security resources away from real threats.

“Making a false claim about a bomb is not a joke, it is a criminal act that can lead to prosecution and serious penalties.”

The penalty for this offense is a maximum fine of $10,500.