Pilots of Frankfurt-Bound Lufthansa Flight Accidently Sent Hijack Alert to Cabin Crew
The flight cockpit developed an unusual technical snag, where the pilots were able to send messages to the air traffic regulator, but could not receive messages sent to them.
Frankfurt, Feb 26: Pilots of Lufthansa's Embraer ERJ-190, travelling from Aberdeen in Scotland to Germany's Frankfurt, accidently sent out a mid-flight hijack alert to the cabin crew, which raised a security alarm at Frankfurt airport last week.
The incident, which happened on Saturday, was unusual in its kind, said a Lufthansa spokesperson. The flight cockpit developed an unusual technical snag, where the pilots were able to send messages to the air traffic regulator, but could not receive messages sent to them.
While informing the cabin crew about the technical malfunction, the pilots accidently sent a code which signals the hijacking of the flight. Soon, heavy security was deployed at the airport, with the German Air Force also preparing to intercept the flight if required.
After realising their mistake, the pilots sent a message to the air traffic regulator about the faux pas. Subsequently, the authorities at Frankfurt airport were informed, which led to the relaxation of the security measures.
After the plane landed at the airport, Lufthansa mechanics resolved the technical snag due to which the pilots were not able to receive messages. The plane then commenced on the return journey to Aberdeen.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 26, 2018 01:21 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).