Virgin Blue "Hijacked" and forced to land at Bali

Join this forum to discuss the latest news that happened in the world of commercial aviation.

Moderator: Latest news team

Post Reply
User avatar
CTBke
Posts: 1141
Joined: 13 May 2003, 00:00
Location: Newark NJ

Virgin Blue "Hijacked" and forced to land at Bali

Post by CTBke »

Last edited by CTBke on 25 Apr 2014, 12:11, edited 1 time in total.
Citybird
The flying dream


Pleasonton
Posts: 24
Joined: 08 Oct 2005, 00:00

Re: Virgin Blue Hijacked and forced to land at Bali

Post by Pleasonton »

No hijack, drunken passenger.

Source: http://www.lesoir.be/528841/article/act ... me-panique
(Sorry only in French)

User avatar
sn26567
Posts: 40934
Joined: 13 Feb 2003, 00:00
Location: Rosières/Rozieren, Belgium
Contact:

Re: Virgin Blue Hijacked and forced to land at Bali

Post by sn26567 »

No hijack? But flight VA41 was squawking 7500 (hijack) on ground at Denpasar Airport! Airport has been closed and all other flights are diverting to other airports.

But it's true that when a drunk passenger tries to force his way into the cockpit, the pilot might think he tries to hijack the plane, hence the squawk.
André
ex Sabena #26567

User avatar
sn26567
Posts: 40934
Joined: 13 Feb 2003, 00:00
Location: Rosières/Rozieren, Belgium
Contact:

Re: Virgin Blue "Hijacked" and forced to land at Bali

Post by sn26567 »

And here is a neutral report on what really happened, by Tha Aviation Herald (who else?):

Incident: Virgin Australia B738 near Denpasar on Apr 25th 2014, squawked unlawful interference

A Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800, registration VH-YIF performing flight VA-41 from Brisbane,QL (Australia) to Denpasar (Indonesia) with 137 passengers and 6 crew, was enroute at FL380 about 260nm southeast of Bali/Denpasar when the aircraft began to squawk the code for unlawful interference, the crew did not communicate with air traffic control but continued according to flight plan and landed safely on Denpasar's runway 27 about 35 minutes later at 14:43L (06:43Z). The aircraft stopped at the end of the runway. About one hour after landing and coming to a stop radio contact was restored and the aircraft taxied to the apron.

Shortly after landing Indonesia's Air Force confirmed they are currently treating the occurrence as a possible hijack. They are currently trying to establish communication with the aircraft, so far to no avail. About one hour after landing the Air Force stated that it was not a case of hijack.

The airline reported there has been a miscommunication between captain and air traffic control, a passenger was banging onto the cockpit door in the attempt to enter the cockpit but did not make it into the cockpit.

Denpasar's Criminal Police reported one male offender (28, Australian citizen) has been arrested without resistance and is being interviewed for the motives of his hijack attempt. Interviews with all others involved are ongoing as well. The interviews so far indicate the crew activated the unlawful interference transponder code because someone was banging onto the cockpit door.

http://avherald.com/h?article=4736cd58&opt=0
André
ex Sabena #26567

Post Reply