Disruptive passenger forces MH179 to make turnback to KLIA

A disruptive passenger caused Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight MH179 enroute to Colombo, Sri Lanka to make a turnback yesterday, to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

The airlines confirmed the flight commander made a decision to ensure safety and comfort of those onboard after the intoxicated passenger began harrassing the plane crew, shortly after the flight was airborne.

Due to his enormous size, other guests had to assist the crew to restrain the passenger, MAS said in a statement today.

According to the statement, the disruptive passenger was handed over to the authorities upon arrival at the KLIA.

MH179 then departed for Colombo at 10.06am today. Flight tracker website 'Flightradar24' in its Twitter at 1.30 this morning said the aircraft made a turnback after dumping fuel for two hours in the Melaka Strait to reduce the weight of the plane, before landing.