Johannesburg
- Airlink on Tuesday again apologised for the false hijacking alert for
one of its flights from Cape Town to Wonderboom in Pretoria on Monday,
but said initial investigations had cleared the aircraft and pilots for
the error.
In a statement, Airlink chief executive officer and managing director Rodger Foster said: “As promised, we have launched our own investigation into Monday’s incident, including testing the aircraft and crucially, its identifier transponder.
“No faults were found and the aircraft and its transponder are working normally and have been returned to service. We also have confirmed that the pilots did not alter the transponder identifier code to signal a hi-jacking. The only logical conclusion is that the signal momentarily displayed on air traffic control radar was the result of some other cause and not due to a fault with the aircraft, its systems or crew actions.
“We have asked the Air Traffic Navigation Services to check its systems accordingly,” added Foster.
The airline has said it would also assist authorities with their investigation, “which is a mandatory step following such incidents”.
Airlink extended its “sincere apologies to everyone affected by the incident involving its flight SA8678, which was involved in an anomalous hi-jack alert”.
“I wish to acknowledge and thank our incredible passengers and crew for their patience and calm during what must clearly have been an anxious and distressing time this afternoon,” said Foster.
The false hijack alert prompted panic on social media and among passengers of flight SA8678 from Cape Town to Pretoria earlier on Monday afternoon.
After waiting hours to disembark from the plane which landed safely at the Wonderboom National Airport terminal in Pretoria, passengers hugged and kissed their anxiously waiting families and friends.
Officers from specialised police units descended on Wonderboom Airport in Pretoria after the highjacking alert was raised. The camouflage-donning Special Task Force and the SA Police Air Wing arrived at the scene and pulled on their gear. A section of the airport was cordoned off and police rushed in as television crews filmed. Members of the Tshwane Metro Police Department and paramedics were also at hand. Source :African News Agency
In a statement, Airlink chief executive officer and managing director Rodger Foster said: “As promised, we have launched our own investigation into Monday’s incident, including testing the aircraft and crucially, its identifier transponder.
“No faults were found and the aircraft and its transponder are working normally and have been returned to service. We also have confirmed that the pilots did not alter the transponder identifier code to signal a hi-jacking. The only logical conclusion is that the signal momentarily displayed on air traffic control radar was the result of some other cause and not due to a fault with the aircraft, its systems or crew actions.
“We have asked the Air Traffic Navigation Services to check its systems accordingly,” added Foster.
The airline has said it would also assist authorities with their investigation, “which is a mandatory step following such incidents”.
Airlink extended its “sincere apologies to everyone affected by the incident involving its flight SA8678, which was involved in an anomalous hi-jack alert”.
“I wish to acknowledge and thank our incredible passengers and crew for their patience and calm during what must clearly have been an anxious and distressing time this afternoon,” said Foster.
The false hijack alert prompted panic on social media and among passengers of flight SA8678 from Cape Town to Pretoria earlier on Monday afternoon.
After waiting hours to disembark from the plane which landed safely at the Wonderboom National Airport terminal in Pretoria, passengers hugged and kissed their anxiously waiting families and friends.
Officers from specialised police units descended on Wonderboom Airport in Pretoria after the highjacking alert was raised. The camouflage-donning Special Task Force and the SA Police Air Wing arrived at the scene and pulled on their gear. A section of the airport was cordoned off and police rushed in as television crews filmed. Members of the Tshwane Metro Police Department and paramedics were also at hand. Source :African News Agency
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