A man will face court after allegedly claiming he had a bomb as a plane bound for Malaysia was preparing for take-off at one of Australia’s busiest airports.

AFP officers at Sydney Airport responded on Sunday to the alleged bomb threat, arresting a man on board a Turkish Airlines flight that was about to depart for Kuala Lumpur.

The plane was on the taxiway preparing for take-off when a crew member asked the man about electrical equipment he was holding. The passenger allegedly responded that he had a bomb.

The captain told police the item appeared to be a wireless phone charger.

Passengers seated near the man were relocated as a precaution, before police boarded the plane and made the arrest.

The 44-year-old Montenegro national is expected to appear in court on Tuesday, charged with threatening aviation security.

AFP Detective Superintendent Davina Copelin said bomb threats are always incredibly serious.

“What some people may consider a joke can cause significant disruption, trigger emergency responses and divert security resources away from genuine threats,” Copelin said.

“Making a false claim about a bomb is not a prank, it is a criminal matter that can result in prosecution and substantial penalties.”

This offence carries a maximum penalty of a $10,500 fine.

-AAP