Scot tells of tackling bomb suspect on plane

‘Crazy’ passenger was threatening to blow up jet and storm cockpit

A HEROIC Scot has told how he tackled a passenger on a plane who was threatening to detonate a bomb and storm the cockpit.

Robert MacDonald said: “I heard an air hostess shouting, ‘This guy’s crazy,’ and there was a commotion in the seat in front of me.

“We pushed the guy on to the floor and cabin crew put cords on him and secured him to the ground.”

Mr MacDonald, who had been visiting his grandchildren in Australia and was returning home to Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, played down claims he was a hero.

He said: “It was just my instinct to get up and help. There were three or four guys on him already.

“He was really struggling but they were big guys so he had no chance.”

“I’d do it again.”

The Scot said the man’s eyes had glazed over and he looked dazed as he was pinned to the ground.

The Malaysia Airlines Flight 128 to Kuala Lumpur was forced to return to Melbourne after the disruptive passenger, a 25-year-old Sri Lankan, began shouting threats. Passengers claimed to have seen an electronic device in his hand as he tried to storm the cockpit.

Another passenger who identified himself as Andy told a local radio station the device in the man’s hand was “the size of a watermelon”.

He added: “It was huge, it was black and it had two black antennae coming off it, but it also looked like an iPhone jack. So it could have been just a beatbox thing.”

The unruly passenger had been discharged from a Melbourne psychiatric hospital on Wednesday and has been charged with allegedly threatening to blow up a plane. He was due in court yesterday.

Police superintendent Tony Langdon said the flight crew also played a part in tackling the man.

He said: “We believe that the actions of the passengers and crew were quite heroic.”

Passengers were kept on the plane for 90 minutes after landing and the aircraft was searched for explosives.

Melbourne Airport was put on lockdown and incoming aircraft were diverted.

Amid the chaos, the plane’s pilot made a call to air traffic control, and a recording of the conversation has emerged.

The pilot can be heard saying: “We have a passenger trying to enter the cockpit. He is claiming to have an explosive device. He tried to enter the cockpit.

“He has been overpowered by passengers.

“However, we’d

like to land and have out.”

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

“Safety and security are of Malaysia Airlines’ utmost priority.

Victoria Police Senior Constable Adam West said: “It is alleged a man tried to enter the cockpit and

the

device checked threatened the safety of passengers and staff.

“The man did not gain entry to the cockpit.

“The man was subdued and a safety plan was enacted.

“There appears to be no imminent threat to passengers, staff or public and the investigation is ongoing.”

Police later said the suspect had a history of mental illness.

I heard an air hostess shouting, ‘This guy’s crazy,’ and there was a commotion in the seat in front of me. We pushed the guy on to the floor