False Hijacking Alert Briefly Closes Germany’s Nuremberg Airport
publishers 25articles 26first reported 13 Oct, 10:30 UTCdeveloping since 13 Oct · 9 editions
German authorities briefly closed Nuremberg Airport and scrambled fighter jets on Tuesday after a passenger plane mistakenly transmitted an emergency code indicating a hijacking.
Corendon Airlines flight XR456, a Boeing 737-800 carrying 178 passengers from the Greek island of Corfu to Nuremberg, sent the transponder code 7500 while flying over Croatia. The code alerts air traffic controllers to a possible hijacking or other unlawful interference.
According to German police, air traffic controllers were unable to contact the cockpit to clarify the situation, prompting security alerts in several European countries. Croatia dispatched a Rafale fighter jet to intercept the aircraft, while German military jets also escorted it. Police cordoned off Nuremberg Airport as a precaution.
The plane landed safely, and police later said checks found no danger. Passengers were allowed to disembark, and the airport resumed normal operations.
Corendon Airlines said the alert was transmitted inadvertently because of a brief malfunction in the radio communications system. The airline said no emergency had occurred and that the passengers, crew and aircraft were never in danger.
The incident delayed six flights and caused two arriving aircraft to divert to Cologne and Prague before continuing to Nuremberg, according to airport officials.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 5 with the publisher's own text; 7 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 24 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 25
- Source articles
- 26
- Given to the writer
- 8, 5 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 7
- This version written
- 24 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
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- passed
- Human review
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WHAT THE EDITOR DID
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