By Tara Cosoleto

A DISRUPTIVE passenger has been arrested after he forced a Malaysia Airlines flight to turn back to Sydney within hours of departing.

Flight MH122 left for Kuala Lumpur just after 1pm on Monday but landed back at Sydney International Airport at 3.47pm due to the 45-year-old man’s behaviour.

“In the interest of safety, the commander of the flight made a decision to return to Sydney,” Malaysia Airlines told AAP in a statement.

“The safety and comfort of our crew and passengers are of utmost importance to Malaysia Airlines.”

The Australian Federal Police arrested the man without incident almost three hours after the plane returned to Sydney.

All of the 194 passengers and five crew members were safely evacuated from the aircraft.

“An emergency response plan was enacted and an evacuation was initiated once it was deemed safe for passengers and crew,” a police spokeswoman said.

Some of those passengers have posted to social media, saying a man had been yelling at flight attendants and making threats.

Thirty-two domestic flights were cancelled at Sydney Airport as a result of the incident. No international services were cancelled.