Another passenger who has been speaking to journalists outside the airport says the incident on board lasted maybe five minutes but felt "like hell".

Oran Choen says he heard "Allahu Akbar" being shouted before the plane started to dive, about an hour before the flight was due to land - he does not specify who he heard say "Allahu Akbar".

"I can't tell you the feelings I felt in that moment... I am 18 years old... it was a very tough moment," he says.

"Maybe it was five minutes but it feels like hell - I heard my brother behind me scream that we was going to die," he adds.

Getting emotional, he says it was a "very bad moment".