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Plane hijack scare at Schiphol airport due to 'lack of communication' Plane hijack scare at Schiphol airport due to 'lack of communication'
(35 minutes later)
Miscommunication between a Spanish airline pilot and Dutch ground control caused a hijack scare on Wednesday that led the Netherlands to send F-16 fighters to intercept a plane.Miscommunication between a Spanish airline pilot and Dutch ground control caused a hijack scare on Wednesday that led the Netherlands to send F-16 fighters to intercept a plane.
"There was never any danger. There was a lack of communication between the pilot and the tower and the airport has activated the security protocol," a spokeswoman for Spanish carrier Vueling said. "There was never any danger. There was a lack of communication between the pilot and the tower and the airport has activated the security protocol," a spokeswoman for the Spanish carrier Vueling said.
Dutch police said the security alert was triggered when radio contact with the plane was lost, Dutch news agency ANP reported. Police said the security alert was triggered when radio contact with the plane was lost, according to the Dutch ANP news agency.
The plane, which was flying from Malaga in Spain to Amsterdam with about 180 passengers on board, was surrounded by Dutch security forces on landing at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport. Police then boarded and searched the aircraft. The plane, which was flying from Málaga in Spain to Amsterdam with about 180 passengers on board, was surrounded by Dutch security forces on landing at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport. Police then boarded and searched the aircraft.
The Dutch Defence Ministry had sent two F-16 fighters to intercept the airplane after suspecting a hijacking said a Dutch military police spokesman. The Dutch defence ministry scrambled two F-16 fighters to intercept the plane after a suspected hijacking a military police spokesman said.
Dutch broadcaster NOS quoted a passenger on board the plane as saying nothing unusual was happening. The Dutch broadcaster NOS quoted a passenger on board the plane as saying nothing unusual was happening.
"In fact nothing was going on. We had to fly a few rounds. We are now waiting in the plane, the doors are still closed. But there is no hijack," the passenger said. "In fact nothing was going on. We had to fly a few rounds. We are now waiting in the plane. The doors are still closed, but there is no hijack," the passenger said.
Airport staff said it was not clear when passengers would be allowed to disembark, and directed friends and relatives who were waiting at the arrivals hall to the information desk. Airport staff said it was not clear when passengers would be allowed to disembark.