Newsstand - Possible hijack attempt turns out to be fluke distress signal from pilot (MX at SFO)




tom911
Apr 29, 03, 12:21 am
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A member of the crew piloting a Mexicana airline flight from Mexico City inadvertently sent a distress signal indicating a hijack attempt, causing the plane to be met with a swarm of police and federal authorities upon arrival Monday in San Francisco.

The "air piracy" alert code was sent by accident and the 168 passengers aboard Mexicana Flight 976 were hustled away after the plane landed at at 6:52 p.m at San Francisco International Airport, said Sgt. Larry Ratti.

"The pilot erroneously dialed in a distress code that it was an air piracy. Naturally we take this very seriously here," Ratti said.
http://www.sacbee.com/state_wire/story/6532093p-7482733c.html


travelinmanS
Apr 29, 03, 11:39 am
Ive heard from a pilot friend of mine that it is as simple a mistake as inserting a 5 for a 6 when punching in the code.

Maybe they should make the various codes more dissimilar from each other.



SEO by vBSEO 3.2.0