Man Charged Over False Bomb Threat on Sydney-KL Flight

Australian authorities have formally charged a Montenegrin man over an alleged false bomb threat on a flight from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur. The incident, which sparked panic, was reported by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) on Tuesday (23/6).

The 44-year-old man was arrested at Sydney Airport on Sunday (21/6). The arrest was made after officers received information about a suspected bomb threat on a Turkish Airlines aircraft that was preparing for take-off.

According to authorities, the incident began when a cabin crew member questioned the suspect about an electronic device he was carrying. At that point, the man allegedly claimed to have a bomb on the plane.

Upon hearing the report, the captain immediately took emergency action by directing the aircraft back to the gate. Police officers then boarded the plane to secure and remove the man from the flight.

Following further investigation, the aircraft captain provided testimony to police that the suspected electronic device was actually just a wireless phone charger.

The suspect now faces one charge related to actions threatening aviation security. Under applicable Australian law, he faces a maximum penalty of a fine of 10,500 Australian dollars.

Police are continuing to investigate the motive behind the suspect’s statement to complete the investigation file before submitting it to the court.