Air Europa apologises after pilot ‘accidentally’ triggered hijack alert UPDATED

UPDATED: Air Europa has apologised after one of its pilots triggered a major security alert at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport.

A large number of security and emergency services personnel were deployed to the scene after reports that Air Europa A330, flight UX1094 bound for Madrid. had been hijacked early on Wednesday evening.

The incident began at about 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday when emergency services were called for an incident at Schiphol Airport, one of Europe’s busiest airports. Military police said the incident involves a “suspicious situation” on board a plane.

A GRIP-3 report was issued just after 7 p.m., which means that there is a ‘potential threat to the well-being of the population within a municipality’.

A large number of emergency services were called to the scene, including heavily-armed police, ambulances, and a medical helicopter. Sources told RTL Nieuws that the situation involves a departing Air Europe flight. Dutch news website NU said the Special Interventions Service has arrived at the scene.

Less than 30 minutes later, an evacuation was ordered at Utrecht Central Station, which is the country’s busiest railway station, when someone pressed a fire alarm, officials said. The alert was canceled a few minutes later and there was no indication it is linked to the situation at Schiphol.

Many messages were circulating on Twitter about a possible hijacking of the aircraft that would be the only one near the D pier.

Several media reported that the pilot of the aircraft triggered the hijacking report.

The heavily armed Special Interventions Service (DSI) is said to have entered the aircraft and brought all the passengers out.

Air Europa released  a statement, saying that procedures for a hijack situation were activated by accident.

“In a plane (set to fly) from Amsterdam to Madrid tonight an alarm was accidentally activated which set off safety protocols at the airport,” the Spanish-owned Air Europa said. “There was no cause for alarm. All passengers were fine and waiting for the flight to take off.” It added: “We are sorry. There was no cause for alarm.”