Man filmed shouting at passengers during mid-air emergency

Police have arrested a man after he was filmed by fellow passengers shouting during a flight from Sydney to Malaysia which was turned around after a mid-air emergency incident.

A Current Affair crime editor Simon Bouda told host Ally Langdon the incident on board Malaysia Airlines flight MH122, bound for Kuala Lumpur, unfolded after it left Sydney Airport at 1.40pm.

"Two hours out, there was a problem on the flight and the staff on board the plane decided they needed to turn back to Sydney," Bouda revealed.

"Obviously they were concerned enough about the behaviour, what they said was a disruptive passenger."

Bouda said the man was filmed shouting "my name is Mohammed, slave of Allah".

The plane was back on the runway in Sydney at 3.47pm this afternoon.

One hundred and ninety-nine passengers, many of whom were children and nine crew were stuck on the tarmac while police negotiators tried to talk to the man.

The man was allegedly wearing a backpack on his stomach, which added to concern on the flight.

The incident created delays at the airport into the evening.

Amongst those delayed was Bouda's own daughter, who was stuck on the tarmac for three hours while trying to depart on a trip to the US.

Passengers only began to disembark MH122 about 7pm.