26 October 2023 , 20:58
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An easyJet plane was surrounded by armed police at an airport in Spain - after the pilot accidentally activated a hijack alert.
Some of the 20 National Police and Civil Guard officers pointed their weapons at the plane before speaking to the pilot through an open cockpit window this afternoon. Police stood down after it was established the hijack alert was a result of human error. However the aircraft was thoroughly searched before passengers were allowed to disembark at Majorca's Palma Airport.
The plane had arrived from Birmingham Airport with Brits ready for some autumn sun. It had previously been diverted from the landing area after the 1pm alarm was sounded moments before arrival.
Pilots are believed to be able to "silently" inform air traffic control of a potential hijack by transmitting a four-digit "unlawful interference" code. An easyJet spokesperson said tonight: "easyJet can confirm that flight EJU7254 from Birmingham to Palma on 26 October was met by emergency services on arrival at Palma as a precaution only. The safety and security of its passengers and crew is always easyJet's highest priority."
A BA flight this week was forced to return to Heathrow just hours into its journey following a "minor technical issue". Flight BA219 did a U-turn after a reported hydraulic failure, requesting a long approach to Heathrow.
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Meanwhile passengers fell ill when "unknown fumes" filled a British Airways flight - with customers rushed off the plane at Heathrow. Emergency services scrambled to the Terminal 5 runway after the plane arrived from Barcelona earlier at around 4.15pm on October 8.
And last month, a man was caught having sex on an easyJet flight - which left his mum "mortified" - as he travelled to Ibiza to celebrate his birthday. Piers Sawyer's mum said he'd "only just met the woman" at Luton Airport hours earlier on September 7. A viral 30-second clip shows a flight attendant standing outside the toilet before they open the door to find Piers and the woman in a compromising position. Piers, who works at an Audi car dealership, then quickly slams the door shut in the clip. However, police met the flight after it landed in Ibiza.