errr - what does this button do?!

[Strawbs]

An Idiot - Sorry! - "Pilot" punched the Anti-Hijack Emergency codes into his aircraft's console by mistake - then transmitted them! The Virgin Atlantic flight was diverted from New York to Canada (hot potato anyone? :D ) and given a fighter escort despite a follow up call from the Dummy - Sorry! - "Pilot" to admit his gaff.

The plane has now landed safely & been boarded by S.W.A.T. (imagine being a passenger on that flight). :eek:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4607657.stm

His last words before being shot to ribbons are thought to have been "HijackThis! MoFo's!" ok! that part's not entirely true. :p

[tantone]

Where are you getting the part about the pilot initiating that signal?

[mireland]

Originally posted by tantone
Where are you getting the part about the pilot initiating that signal?
good question: says it as a transponder malfunction..:eek:

[Strawbs]

It's been on the radio here all day - no mention of a "Malfunction"! They are blaming Pilot error.

:t

[tantone]

Could it be that they're just jumping to conclusions? Pilot error certainly has yet to hit print.

[Strawbs]

how would a plane know it's being hijacked - even if it were happening - without some input from the crew?

[tantone]

So they are jumping to conclusions. I'm not saying that it isn't pilot error, because that's the most likely cause, but I have yet to see that come out as the reason.

[Strawbs]

The radio claimed he did it himself & called to say he had made a mistake, that there was no hijack - but was diverted & given an escort as a safety measure.

I don't know where they got the story originally - but that's how they told it.

Sometimes news stories are "refined" for general release - there was no "press release" from the Airline when I heard the story earlier - probably because it was still ongoing at the time & they weren't 100% sure themselves of what was happening - they only had the Pilot's word.

[tantone]

I like how it was diverted to Canada. "What? It's been hijacked and it's headed for New York? Send them to Canada where they can't do any damage."

[mpc2]

Originally posted by Strawbs
how would a plane know it's being hijacked - even if it were happening - without some input from the crew?

Because the transponder could be malfunctioning. :rolleyes:

[Strawbs]

Originally posted by mpc2
Because the transponder could be malfunctioning. :rolleyes: so its malfunction was to enter the four digit code itself & transmit it?

that's some malfunction!

[herosrest]

Cheers strawbs. l'm still laughing that one... cheered me up contempating the pilots career options. :D


l'm also wondering what was to happen in Canada'.

l'm sure someone knows what the plans are for.

[zybch]

Originally posted by tantone
I like how it was diverted to Canada. "What? It's been hijacked and it's headed for New York? Send them to Canada where they can't do any damage."

:)

[tantone]

Originally posted by herosrest
l'm also wondering what was to happen in Canada'.

l'm sure someone knows what the plans are for. Nothing was supposed to happen in Canada. Nothing ever does happen in Canada.

[j.m@talk]

Originally posted by zybch
:)


Land it in the sea .......... Or we shoot yas bum :mad:

:t

[j.m@talk]

I'm gonna talk to zybch....... Rent his spare bedroom ........... Miles away from you bozo's



:t

[mireland]

Originally posted by j.m@talk
I'm gonna talk to zybch....... Rent his spare bedroom ........... Miles away from you bozo's



:t

what? you don't wanna room with Billforce???:D

[j.m@talk]

Originally posted by mireland
what? you don't wanna room with Billforce???:D

Don't be preposterous:D

[mireland]

Originally posted by j.m@talk
Don't be preposterous:D


or how about ol banjo boy himself: ukulele???http://www.fancysplace.com/smileys/froggy.gif

[j.m@talk]

I quite get on wiv bofe of em .......... Party for us :D

[mireland]

Originally posted by j.m@talk
I quite get on wiv bofe of em .......... Party for us :D

:cool: