Sydney Airport chaos as passenger allegedly tells a flight attendant he has a BOMB just before the plane takes off

By ANNABELLE BANFIELD FOR AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS Published: 02:29, 23 June 2026 | Updated: 02:29, 23 June 2026 A man is due to face court after allegedly claiming he had a bomb as a plane bound for Malaysia was preparing for take-off at one of Australia's busiest airports. On Sunday, AFP officers at Sydney Airport responded to the alleged bomb threat, arresting a man on board a Turkish Airlines flight from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur. The plane was on the taxiway when a crew member questioned the man about electrical equipment he was holding. The passenger allegedly responded that he had a bomb. The captain told police the item appeared to be a wireless phone charger. Passengers seated near the man were relocated as a precaution before police boarded the plane and made the arrest. The 44-year-old Montenegrin national is expected to appear in court on Tuesday, charged with threatening aviation security. AFP Detective Superintendent Davina Copelin said bomb threats are always serious. AFP officers at Sydney Airport arrested a man on board a Turkish Airlines flight on Sunday The man allegedly told a flight attendant that he had a bomb (Pictured, Sydney Airport) 'What some people may consider a joke can cause significant disruption, trigger emergency responses and divert security resources away from genuine threats,' Det Supt Copelin said. 'Making a false claim about a bomb is not a prank, it is a criminal matter that can result in prosecution and substantial penalties.' The offence carries a maximum penalty of a $10,500 fine. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.