World
Pilot accidentally triggers hijacking alert at Amsterdam Airport
A major security alert was declared at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands when a pilot sent a hijacking alert, but everyone was evacuated safely and the incident was deemed a false alarm, officials and sources say. Air Europa has apologized for the mistake.
The incident began just before 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday when the captain of a departing Air Europa flight entered transponder code 7500, which signals a hijacking. A major incident was immediately declared and a large number of emergency services, including heavily-armed police units, were called.
Officials said the incident occurred during the boarding process and at least 27 passengers were already on board the plane. Heavily-armed police units boarded the plane about an hour later and everyone was safely evacuated. No one was injured.
“False alarm. On the flight Amsterdam-Madrid [this evening], a warning that triggers hijacking protocols was activated at the airport by mistake,” Air Europa said in a statement. “Nothing has happened, all the passengers are safe and sound waiting to fly soon. We deeply apologize.”
A source told De Telegraaf newspaper that the hijacking alert was triggered by the captain who hit ‘send’ by accident while showing an intern what the transponder codes are used for. When such an alert is sent, it cannot be canceled until security forces confirm what happened.
#schiphol pic.twitter.com/dAeSxotLHB
— peter vandermeersch (@pvdmeersch) November 6, 2019
-
Legal5 days ago
Arkansas Amber Alert: Trixie Studer missing from Logan County
-
Legal7 days ago
Colorado Amber Alert: Sandra Mendoza abducted in Pueblo
-
Legal1 week ago
Texas Amber Alert: 3 children missing from Austin
-
US News1 week ago
U.S. COVID update (October 14): 70,360 new cases, 1,189 new deaths
-
Legal2 days ago
5 killed in shooting at Fall City, Washington home, teenager arrested
-
Legal23 hours ago
Suspect arrested in shootings at Democratic Party campaign office in Arizona
-
Entertainment2 days ago
Former ‘Iron Maiden’ singer Paul Di’Anno dead at 66
-
Entertainment7 days ago
Former ‘One Direction’ star Liam Payne dead at 31