Dutch airport thrown into chaos after pilot accidentally triggers hijack alert, sparking military response

Dutch military police and emergency services descended on Schiphol Airport on Wednesday night amid reports of a possible hijacking by three men armed with knives.

The airport was placed into lockdown as military police boarded flight UX1094 to Madrid, before evacuating all 27 passengers and crew at around 8.40pm.

Air Europa then tweeted that it was a “false alarm”.

“In the flight Amsterdam-Madrid, this afternoon was activated, by mistake, a warning that triggers protocols on hijackings at the airport,” the airline tweeted. “Nothing has happened, all passengers are safe and sound waiting to fly soon. We deeply apologise.”

An unconfirmed photo posted to Twitter showed what appeared to be the embarrassed-looking pilot getting a grilling from a female police officer.

Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reports the incident may have been caused by the pilot accidentally triggering transponder code 7500, which signals a hijacking, while demonstrating “special codes” for a trainee. He may have also triggered codes 7600 and 7700, which indicate communication failure and emergency.

A source told the newspaper that the captain to “wanted to explain to a trainee what all codes mean” but then the “send” button was “accidentally actually pressed”.