Unruly man ranting about Islam arrested after Malaysia Airlines flight was grounded at Sydney Airport

A 45-year-old man has been arrested by the Australian Federal Police over a mid-air emergency that forced a plane to divert back to Sydney Airport.

The Australian Federal Police were notified of the emergency situation after the captain made the decision to turn the MH122 Airbus around and land the plane after it was destined for Kuala Lumpur.

Mid-flight a passenger was alleged to have threatened staff and asked passengers if they were ‘slaves to Allah’ on board the plane.

The Malaysia Airlines flight was isolated on one runway at the Sydney airport while fire trucks and buses surrounded the plane once it landed about 4pm AEST.

Flight passengers were trapped on board the plane for several hours on the runway as flight crew tried to deescalate the situtation.

All passengers were escorted off by the AFP about 6.30pm AEST.

An AFP spokesperson said there was no ongoing threat to the community after the man was arrested by officers on Monday evening.

“The AFP will not divulge operational matters, however, an emergency response plan was enacted and an evacuation was initiated once it was deemed safe for passengers and crew,” a spokesperson said.

It is expected that the man will be charged on Monday evening.

Vision from one passenger on board claimed the man had taken the staff and passengers hostage.

“Where is airport security?! It’s been well over one hour since the plane has landed back!!!” the post said.

A later post by the man said the captain had been unable to provide passengers with clarity as to when they could depart and were being moved to the back of the plane.

One passenger said in a social media post that the man at the centre of the disruption claimed he was “testing Muslims” during the tirade.

Passenger Muhammad Zubair said police told them to leave all belongings on the plane before they were escorted away.

The AFP is conducting an investigation into the incident as it interviews people on board inside the airport.