A Canberra man who sparked chaos on-board an international flight when he allegedly threatened he had a bomb will continue to wait in prison as police continue to gather statements from witnesses on the plane.
Muhammad Arif, 45, was dramatically arrested at Sydney airport in August after he allegedly ranted at airline crew and forced the pilot to make a mid-air U-turn while en route to Kuala Lumpur.
Mr Arif did not appear in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday when a representative from the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions told the court a further brief service order was sought.
The court was told a partial brief had been served but police were still obtaining statements from witnesses on the flight.
Transcripts of body-worn footage from the flight is also being put into evidence.
Mr Arif remains in custody on remand after the Local Court rejected an application for bail made by his solicitor Oussama Elfwal on September 20.
He was arrested on-board Malaysian Airlines flight 122, after the plane sat on the tarmac at Sydney international airport for several hours.
The 45-year-old was charged with making a false statement about a threat to damage an aircraft and not complying with a cabin crew’s safety instruction.
In the days following his arrest, Mr Arif refused to leave his cell at Surry Hills Police Station to appear in court, but he appeared via audiovisual link on September 20 dressed in his prison greens.
The court has previously been told that Mr Arif was suffering from “serious” mental health issues but the prosecution opposed bail on the grounds he was a risk of endangering the community and committing further offences.
He was not released on bail as the magistrate held safety concerns.
Police allege Mr Arif claimed he had explosives on-board the flight.
Videos posted to social media showed Mr Arif arguing with flight attendants and ranting about “Allah”.
“Are you a slave of Allah? Are you? Say it. Say it. Are you a slave of Allah?” he said in one video.
The plane landed back in Sydney and was isolated at the end of a runway while the other 200 passengers were moved to another part of the plane.
It sat on the tarmac for several hours before police stormed the aircraft and placed Mr Arif in handcuffs.
The court was told that even when AFP officers stormed the plane, Mr Arif continued to resist and banged his head against a door.
Mr Arif will return to court in November.