A Malaysia Airlines flight departing Sydney for Kuala Lumpur on Monday was forced to return to Sydney about two hours into the flight after a passenger allegedly threatened fellow travellers and crew on the flight.

Flight data showed that flight MH122 departed Sydney at 1.40pm local time (11.40am Singapore time) but returned at 3.47pm. The journey typically lasts just under nine hours.

Shortly after 6.30pm, nearly three hours after the plane carrying 194 passengers and five crew members landed, images shared on social media showed the police boarding the plane and apprehending the disruptive passenger.

Passengers can be seen in shared videos later disembarking the Airbus A330, and reporting on social media that they were instructed by the police to leave their belongings on the aircraft while they waited to be interviewed in an airport lounge.

The Australian Federal Police confirmed on Monday that a man, 45, was arrested without incident, adding that there was no impending threat to the community.

More than one passenger aboard the flight reported on social media that the flight had been cancelled, sharing images of a man appearing to be disruptive on the flight.

In one video he can be seen refusing to sit when asked by a flight attendant, while continuing to lodge verbal protests.

One passenger, Ms Sammi Marks, said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the man tried to take on a passenger who stood up to him.

According to Ms Marks, the man seated near her had “unzipped his backpack, put his hands in, made barely veiled threats about having something dangerous in it, screaming at the top of his lungs”. She described it as the “scariest situation” in her life.

Australian broadcaster 9News reported that cabin crew checks revealed there was no bomb in his backpack. Other passengers reported on social media overhearing the man say it was a “test”.

Mr Muhammad Zubair, another passenger, said on X that the captain had announced that the flight was cancelled after it had landed.

He added that the passengers were moved to the back of the plane to separate them from the disruptive traveller while they awaited airport security’s assistance to send buses for the passengers.

In one video shared by another passenger, the man can be seen seated in one of the plane’s aisles accompanied by some flight attendants as travellers observed him from a distance.

Sydney Airport reported on Monday afternoon that the travel hub was operational with flights arriving and departing, adding that 32 domestic flights were cancelled while no other international flights were affected.

“We are currently supporting emergency agencies in the management of an incident at the airport,” tweeted a spokesman.

Malaysia Airlines said in a statement that “in the interests of safety, the commander of the flight made the decision to return to Sydney”.

“The safety and comfort of our crew and passengers are of upmost importance to Malaysia Airlines,” a spokesman said on Monday, adding that the aircraft will be inspected by the police with passengers transferred to the next available flights.