Manodh Marks, 25, was initially charged with multiple offences including endangering the safety of an aircraft. However, prosecutors dropped a number of them, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported.
The charge of attempting to take control of an aircraft carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
The Melbourne Magistrates’ Court was told that Marks, who had been living in the south-east part of the city, was suffering from a psychiatric illness.
On June 1, Marks tried to enter the cockpit of Malaysia Airlines flight MH128, which was flying from Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur.
Passengers on the flight said they feared for their lives when he rushed towards the cockpit shouting that he wanted to “blow the plane up”. However, the device he claimed was an explosive turned out to be a speaker.
Crew members and passengers wrestled him to the floor tied him up before the plane made an emergency landing at Melbourne Airport.
Australian police said Marks had just been released from psychiatric care and boarded the plane hours later.
Victoria state police chief Graham Ashton meanwhile said the case was being treated as one involving a mental health issue, not terrorism links.
Following his arrest, Marks reportedly refused to appear in court due to safety concerns over his “age and appearance”.
The Melbourne Magistrates Court was told that he had also requested to see a mental health nurse while in custody.
According to ABC, Marks has been remanded in custody to face a plea hearing at the County Court in April.
‘Disruptive passenger’ from MAS plane refuses to appear in court