UPDATE: Virgin Australia passenger arrested amid hijack fear
April 25, 2014 01:26 pm
A drunken passenger sparked fears of a hijack after trying to break into the cockpit of a Virgin passenger plane.
According to Metro TV in Indonesia, the plane is currently at Bali’s international airport and a man has now been arrested.
It is understood that the aircraft was a Virgin Australia plane, flying from Brisbane.
“We got information that a 737-800 from Brisbane to Bali has been hijacked,” Indonesian air force spokesman Hadi Tjahjanto told Metro TV television station.
According to an Indonesian transport official the captain raised the alarm after a passenger tried to enter the cockpit.
However, a Virgin official later denied that the plane had ever been hijacked, TV sources said.
Palani Mohan, a passenger on a Garuda flight that was about to take off from Bali, said: “The captain of my plane made an announcement saying we were delayed indefinitely because a hijack was going on in Bali airport, about 150 metres away from us.
“I saw at least five vehicles including military-style trucks, filled with men in uniform, rushing towards the plane.
“Then the Virgin plane taxied away, followed by the convoy of security forces. The flight attendant said it’s been taken off to a different part of the airport.
“Bali airport seems to be in lockdown, we’ve been told no planes will be departing or arriving. The pilot’s not allowing anyone off our plane.”
Virgin Australia Airlines, formerly Virgin Blue Airlines, is Australia’s second-largest airline as well as the largest by fleet size to use the Virgin brand. - Sky News
According to Metro TV in Indonesia, the plane is currently at Bali’s international airport and a man has now been arrested.
It is understood that the aircraft was a Virgin Australia plane, flying from Brisbane.
“We got information that a 737-800 from Brisbane to Bali has been hijacked,” Indonesian air force spokesman Hadi Tjahjanto told Metro TV television station.
According to an Indonesian transport official the captain raised the alarm after a passenger tried to enter the cockpit.
However, a Virgin official later denied that the plane had ever been hijacked, TV sources said.
Palani Mohan, a passenger on a Garuda flight that was about to take off from Bali, said: “The captain of my plane made an announcement saying we were delayed indefinitely because a hijack was going on in Bali airport, about 150 metres away from us.
“I saw at least five vehicles including military-style trucks, filled with men in uniform, rushing towards the plane.
“Then the Virgin plane taxied away, followed by the convoy of security forces. The flight attendant said it’s been taken off to a different part of the airport.
“Bali airport seems to be in lockdown, we’ve been told no planes will be departing or arriving. The pilot’s not allowing anyone off our plane.”
Virgin Australia Airlines, formerly Virgin Blue Airlines, is Australia’s second-largest airline as well as the largest by fleet size to use the Virgin brand. - Sky News
