Fighter jets Immediately intercept Lufthansa flight after pilot accidentally raises hijack alarm
A Lufthansa flight from Scotland ( Aberdeen) to Germany (Frankfurt ) almost sparked a full-scale military response – when the pilot accidentally said the jet had been hijacked.
Flight experienced problems with the communication equipment on board, forcing the captain to raise an alarm. But he sent out the “wrong squawk code” and sparked panic when he told German air traffic controllers the flight had been hijacked.
Fighter jets and German cops were on standby to deal with the flight – but thankfully, after spending time in the air, the code was corrected and the flight was able to land in Frankfurt.
A Lufthansa spokesman said: “Flight LH975 from Aberdeen to Frankfurt experienced a communication failure while approaching Frankfurt.
“Air traffic control (ATC) instructions could be heard, but the cockpit couldn’t communicate with ATC.
“Hence, the captain issued a squawk in order to inform ATC of the failure. Unfortunately, the wrong squawk code indicating “hijacking” was transmitted to ATC and automatically to federal police and German Federal Armed Forces.
“After extensive holding, having corrected the code to “communication failure” and receiving respective guidance by ATC LH975 landed safely in Frankfurt.”
