False hijack alert in Australia

Airline Industry Information, Dec 24, 2004

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

There was a brief hijack alert on Tuesday (21 December) after air traffic controllers in Melbourne mistakenly believed that a pilot had used code words to indicate a threat.

An air traffic controller reportedly believed he had heard the pilot of low-cost airline Jetstar use a phrase meant to tell controllers the cabin was in immediate danger. The pilot was immediately contacted and quickly clarified that he had not used the emergency words, reports The Australian.

A Jetstar spokesperson denied that the pilot had intentionally or inadvertently used any emergency language.

The aircraft arrived in Sydney a few minutes late and departed for its next flight as normal.

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