Jakarta: A drunk passenger sparked a hijacking alert on a Virgin Australia flight heading for the Indonesian resort island of Bali on Friday when he attempted to break into the cockpit, officials said.
Security forces rushed to the airport when the 737-800 touched down on the popular resort island, as authorities said they had received information the Brisbane to Bali flight had been hijacked.
However, Virgin Australia said the drunken passenger had sparked the alarm when he slammed on the cockpit door. He was later arrested by Indonesian authorities. “This is no hijacking, this is a miscommunication,” said Heru Sudjatmiko, a Virgin Australia official in Bali.
“What happened was there was a drunk person… too much alcohol consumption caused him to act aggressively.”
“Based on the report I received, the passenger tried to enter the cockpit, through the cockpit door, by banging on the door but he did not enter the cockpit at all.” (PTI)
He said the individual was stopped by crew and handcuffed and placed in a seat at the back of the plane. After landing he was taken off the plane and put under arrest. (PTI)
