A Flydubai plane en route to Kabul was forced to turn back to Dubai on Wednesday after the flight turned into chaos because of an unruly passenger.

According to Gulf News it was not a hijack incident, as widely reported on social media.

The incident reportedly happened over Iranian airspace.

“[Flight] FZ301 from Dubai to Kabul returned to Dubai as there was a disruptive passenger onboard. The disruptive passenger was met by the relevant authorities on the aircraft’s arrival,” a spokesperson told Gulf News.

The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) also denied that there was a hijack attempt.  

Reports on social media said that a Flydubai aircraft was en route to Kabul when a male passenger attempted to hijack the flight.

Online reports claimed that the passenger had been armed with a knife and attempted to enter the cockpit and threaten crew but could not do so as the door was locked.

Iran’s ANA news agency reported that the passenger was eventually subdued by cabin crew who managed to lock him in a toilet.

The flight then returned to Dubai and the disruptive passenger was met by the relevant authorities on the aircraft’s arrival.

The GCAA said passengers then resumed their flight to Kabul.