KUALA LUMPUR, June 1 — The Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight that was forced to return to Melbourne Airport was not hijacked, the airline said today.

The airline was responding to rumours that the disruptive passenger who caused the diversion of the Melbourne-Kuala Lumpur flight had mentioned an "explosive device”.

"Malaysia Airlines would like to stress that at no point was the aircraft ‘hijacked’,” the airline said.

The plane safely landed at Melbourne Airport at 11.44pm local time and all passengers have since disembarked.

MAS earlier said a "disruptive” passenger attempted to enter the cockpit, prompting the flight captain to turn the plane around.

The Daily Mirror earlier reported that Melbourne Airport was in a security lock-down owing to the MAS incident.

Flights to Melbourne were also temporarily rerouted.

Passengers of the MH128 flight will be put on the next available flight or with other carriers, MAS said.