Sydney airport emergency: man accused of making bomb threat on flight refuses to leave police cell to face court

A man accused of making a bomb threat on an international flight out of Sydney airport on Monday afternoon has refused to leave his police cell to face court. Canberra man Muhammad Arif, 45, has been charged with making a false statement about a threat to damage an aircraft, and for failing to comply with cabin crew’s safety instruction. The offences carry a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $15,000. On Tuesday morning, Arif refused to leave his cell at Surry Hills police station to come before the court, with magistrate Greg Grogin saying: “They will have to extract him if he is to come before the court.” The matter was repeatedly adjourned while lawyers tried to speak with Arif. “I have tried to see him,” Mostafa Daoudie, his lawyer, told the court. “But he has refused to come out of his cell.” Arif did not appear in court on Tuesday and the matter was adjourned to Wednesday. Bail has been formally refused. Arif was a passenger on Malaysian Airlines flight 122 from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur on Monday afternoon when the flight turned around because of an alleged disturbance on the plane.<br/>