UPDATE: Virgin Australia has confirmed it was a drunk passenger that tired to enter the cockpit of a flight from Brisbane to Bali.
There were reports this afternoon that the Virgin Australia plane had been hijacked after a passenger tried to enter the cockpit of Flight VA41.
An Indonesian military spokesperson confirmed the plane was hijacked. However contrary reports from Virgin Australia suggest it was a medical emergency that forced the landing.
The airline has now confirmed it was a drunk passenger who tried to enter the cockpit and there was a miscommunication between the pilot and the tower at Bali airport.
This from News Corp:
Indonesia’s Air Transportation Director-General Herry Bakti S. Gumay told Metro TV the communication from the cockpit had mentioned the word “hijack’’.
Bali’s police chief told local media a Virgin flight from Brisbane is on the tarmac at Denpasar Airport.
An Indonesian air force spokesman told the BBC that troops boarded the plane.
The passenger is now being questioned by officials.
There are incorrect reports that a Virgin Australia aircraft was hijacked on route to Denpasar. The aircraft in question has landed safely
— Virgin Australia (@VirginAustralia) April 25, 2014
@indoflyer ini dia min di ujung runway pesawatnya pic.twitter.com/QuZkl7FJwl — Ardina Rhefa (@ArdinaRhefa) April 25, 2014
Top Comments
A friend of mine posted on Facebook 'Say NO to drunk bogans on Virgin flights'! I thought that was hilarious although the circumstances certainly aren't. What a complete wally. Excited about going to Bali on holiday? Lets get drunk on the plane and try and enter the cockpit? Gawd. Some people huh!