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| False Hijacking Alarm Throws Amsterdam Airport Into Chaos | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| “False alarm,” the airline declared on Twitter — but by then it was too late. | “False alarm,” the airline declared on Twitter — but by then it was too late. |
| Military police officers, fearing a hijacking on Wednesday, had already swarmed onto the tarmac of Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, and air traffic controllers were scrambling flight schedules at one of Europe’s busiest air hubs. | Military police officers, fearing a hijacking on Wednesday, had already swarmed onto the tarmac of Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, and air traffic controllers were scrambling flight schedules at one of Europe’s busiest air hubs. |
| But Air Europa, a Spanish carrier, said it was all a mistake. A warning system on one of its flights from Amsterdam to Madrid had been accidentally activated late in the day. | But Air Europa, a Spanish carrier, said it was all a mistake. A warning system on one of its flights from Amsterdam to Madrid had been accidentally activated late in the day. |
| “Nothing has happened,” the airline said in a Twitter post more than an hour after the airport was partially shut down. “All passengers are safe and sound, and waiting to fly soon. We deeply apologize.” | “Nothing has happened,” the airline said in a Twitter post more than an hour after the airport was partially shut down. “All passengers are safe and sound, and waiting to fly soon. We deeply apologize.” |
| How the alarm was set off Air Europa did not say. Nor did it say how many passengers had been affected. But it did have some good news: “Our flight UX1094 may take off shortly to Madrid.” | How the alarm was set off Air Europa did not say. Nor did it say how many passengers had been affected. But it did have some good news: “Our flight UX1094 may take off shortly to Madrid.” |
| Hans Van Kastel, an airport spokesman, said in an interview that the situation began about 7 p.m. local time, when the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, a branch of the Dutch military, were called to the airport to investigate “a suspicious situation.” | Hans Van Kastel, an airport spokesman, said in an interview that the situation began about 7 p.m. local time, when the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, a branch of the Dutch military, were called to the airport to investigate “a suspicious situation.” |
| The airline announced the false alarm shortly after the military police said on Twitter that the passengers and crew of the plane were safe, but that the investigation was continuing. | The airline announced the false alarm shortly after the military police said on Twitter that the passengers and crew of the plane were safe, but that the investigation was continuing. |
| As early reports came in, Mark Rutte, the country’s prime minister, did not alter his schedule, but he did say he was monitoring the situation. “Something is going on, we are finding out what is going on,” he told reporters. “I hope it ends well.” | As early reports came in, Mark Rutte, the country’s prime minister, did not alter his schedule, but he did say he was monitoring the situation. “Something is going on, we are finding out what is going on,” he told reporters. “I hope it ends well.” |
| Images on social media showed sections of the airport closed off, with armed officers standing nearby and crowds of passengers waiting. The airport said that Terminal D had been temporarily closed because of the incident but that it reopened around 9 p.m. | Images on social media showed sections of the airport closed off, with armed officers standing nearby and crowds of passengers waiting. The airport said that Terminal D had been temporarily closed because of the incident but that it reopened around 9 p.m. |
| One passenger, Ewan MacIntosh, arrived on a KLM flight from Hamburg, Germany, to a scene of confusion on the tarmac. Emergency responders were swarming to one area, while idling planes accumulated in others, he said in an online message. | One passenger, Ewan MacIntosh, arrived on a KLM flight from Hamburg, Germany, to a scene of confusion on the tarmac. Emergency responders were swarming to one area, while idling planes accumulated in others, he said in an online message. |
| “Pilot saying things are fairly chaotic — there’s no ground staff at all at this pier to help,” Mr. MacIntosh said. He said the pilot told passengers “there are lots of fire brigade, police and ambulances | |
| Mr. MacIntosh said his plane had sat on the tarmac for 20 minutes until a gate was found. Terminal D, he said, looked “pretty closed off and empty.” | Mr. MacIntosh said his plane had sat on the tarmac for 20 minutes until a gate was found. Terminal D, he said, looked “pretty closed off and empty.” |
| After the airline’s sheepish twitter post, life returned to normal. Mr. MacIntosh said travelers were flooding back into the terminal D and making their way to delayed flights. | After the airline’s sheepish twitter post, life returned to normal. Mr. MacIntosh said travelers were flooding back into the terminal D and making their way to delayed flights. |