A passenger tried to enter the cockpit on a Malaysia Airlines flight

Flight MH128 departed from Melbourne for Kuala Lumpur at 11.11 p.m. local time on Wednesday and was about 20 minutes into the journey when the incident occurred, the airline said.

The "disruptive" passenger who forced Malaysia Airlines Flight MH128 to turn back to Melbourne was released from a psychiatric facility hours before he boarded the flight yesterday, Victoria police chief Grahan Ashton said.

Police said passengers were speaking to investigators, adding: "There appears to be no imminent threat to passengers, staff or public and the investigation is ongoing".

Flight attendants tried to stop him and another passenger tried to intervene.

"The passenger... claimed to have a bomb. But it was not a bomb but a powerbank".

He said several precautionary checks had to be conducted on the aircraft by the Melbourne airport authorities including ground checks and cargo to ensure that the aircraft was safe to return to the capital.

Fairfax reported that in air traffic control audio posted online, a male voice can be heard saying: "We have a passenger trying to enter the cockpit".

A screaming man tried to storm the cockpit of a Malaysia Airlines jet shortly after takeoff Wednesday night in Australia, but passengers tackled him before he could reach the pilots, authorities and witnesses told NBC News.

"He has been overpowered by passengers, however we'd like to land and have the device checked out". "Police on scene now".

Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down over the Ukraine in 2014 with the loss of all 283 passengers and 15 crew and Flight 370 with 238 people aboard disappeared in 2013, believed to have crashed in the southern Indian Ocean. The plane turned back to Melbourne airport when the incident began.

The statement continues: "Safety and security are of utmost priority to Malaysia airlines. They will be offered on the next available flight or on other carriers".

The passenger was apprehended by security forces. Nonetheless passengers on board were extremely frightened as the men was shouting that he was going to blow up the plane.

Witnesses say the man, reportedly a Sri Lankan national, was yelling while making his way toward the cockpit before being tackled to the ground by nearly a dozen passengers.