Lankan pleads guilty to attempting to hijack plane

A Sri Lankan man has admitted trying to take control of an international passenger jet flying out of Melbourne.

Manodh Marks, 25, pleaded guilty in Melbourne Magistrate’s Court on Friday to attempting to take control of Malaysia Airlines flight 128 bound for Kuala Lumpur on 31 May, AAP news reported.

Marks, who has a psychiatric illness, was remanded in custody to face the County Court in April, over the mid-air drama that forced the plane carrying 337 passengers to turn back to Tullamarine. Further charges against the accused were withdrawn.