False alarm causes hijacking scare at Amsterdam airport

By Danielle Haynes
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Passengers look at displays at Schiphol airport on January 18, 2018. The airport was partially shut down amid a security scare after a pilot mistakenly triggered a hijacking alert.. File Photo by Remko De Waal/EPA-EFE
Passengers look at displays at Schiphol airport on January 18, 2018. The airport was partially shut down amid a security scare after a pilot mistakenly triggered a hijacking alert.. File Photo by Remko De Waal/EPA-EFE

Nov. 6 (UPI) -- An Air Europa pilot mistakenly triggered a hijacking alert on his flight, temporarily bringing operations at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to a partial halt Wednesday.

The false alarm brought the Dutch Royal Military Police to the airport, where they closed down portions of the facility due to a "suspicious situation."

Rumors of hostages and firearms spread, but about an hour after the alert, Spanish airline Air Europa said the scare was mistakenly triggered.

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

FlightAware reported an average delay of 41 minutes at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

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