A Vietnam Airlines flight from Vietnam to Sydney was interrupted on Monday by a man attempting to hurl himself out of the plane’s cabin doors.

The unidentified man waited until the plane had taken off from Ho Chi Minh City before trying to force open the emergency exit approximately 40,000 feet above ground.

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Thankfully, nearby passengers sprung into action and restrained the man, subduing him and hog tying him to his seat.

“I was having quite a good sleep and I just heard screaming, really loud panicked screaming,” fellow passenger Mark Ansley told TVNZ of the incident.

“And I sat up bolt upright, looked down towards the first bulkhead where the exit row is, and there was a guy actually at the exit door trying to get it open.”

Onlookers said the suicidal man appeared to be distressed and was concerned someone in Sydney was waiting to kill him.

“He was absolutely mad,” Mr Ansley said.

“I would say he was [in an] amphetamine, psychosis sort of state. He was delusional and he was very, very strong.”

When the plane eventually landed at Sydney airport, police boarded to arrest the man.

The airline is reportedly investigating the incident.

Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.