NYC-bound Virgin Air Flight 45 squawking Hijack code; being diverted to New Brunswick, Canada

ABC News | 6-3-5 | ABC News

[Petronski]

The pilot says the hijack code is an error and the plane is secure, but naturally the authorities are not trusting him.

[Petronski]

Local ABC affiliate was interrupted by ABC News Special Report.

The pilot is in constant contact with the ground and insists the plane is secure. Nonetheless, the flight is being diverted to Moncton, NB, Canada as a precaution.

[Petronski]

Did anyone else see this?

[OXENinFLA]

Rot-Row....

[Semper Paratus]

The pilot may have to blow the breathilizer before making a statement.

[NautiNurse]

Just coming up on FNC now.

[Renegade]

Yep, All over the news channels .

[Petronski]

Since none of the cable newsies appear to be covering this, I'm beginning to wonder what is going on.

[mystery-ak]

Fox reporting this now

[Petronski]

Whew! FOX picks it up.

[Petronski]

ABC News identified it as an Airbus heavy.

[mystery-ak]

fighter jets scrambled....

[Velveeta]

bump

[Petronski]

Thank God the French naval fighters happen to be sitting in NJ right now. We're safe!

[mystery-ak]

London to JFK..

[shellshocked]

It is a bit difficult to sqwak such a code by accident. Transponder training is just not something an airline pilot does in the air.

[kcvl]

7500 signal...landing in Canandian airspace...still squaking 7500 hijacking code...

[evets]

Hi Jack!

... oops.

[NautiNurse]

The pilot says the hijack code is an error

four digit code error. FNC says the code is 7500.

[mystery-ak]

LOL...

[L,TOWM]

Hopefully, this is Bull$#!+, not Bull Shi-ite.

[yellowdoghunter]

LOL!

[r9etb]

ABC News identified it as an Airbus heavy.

"Not to be is squawking hijack code. All is every fine."

[Moose4]

Man, if this guy somehow accidentally managed to squawk 7500, he's in a world of pain when that thing lands. Which is, of course, preferable to an actual hijack.

}:-)4

[mewzilla]

The pilot says the hijack code is an error

Can it be sent accidentally?

[kcvl]

It is a bit difficult to sqwak such a code by accident.

They are still squaking the code but saying it is an accident...what do you think?!

[Ramius]

that's odd... still squawking the code, but in contact with ground saying all is well. That's odd.

[Danae]

Airbus Heavy? Where did it start from? Well, lucky we have all those great French fighters in Jersey! What would we do withough those amazing frenchies!!!

[RushCrush]

New Brunswick always gets the shaft!

[Trust but Verify]

What does the 'heavy' designation mean? I've heard this term before and have wondered what it meant.

[Duke809]

No it can't. 7500 has to be dialed on the IFF transponder and the "squawk" button has to be pressed.

[kcvl]

Really? Can you explain for us that don't get it?!

[mewzilla]

I think heavy means it's still loaded with fuel.

[Petronski]

Can it be sent accidentally?

I can't imagine how, but yes, I'm sure it's POSSIBLE.

Someone upthread did point out that anyone managing to do this accidentally is going to be in a world of sh!t once on the ground.

[OXENinFLA]

[RushCrush]

If it's hijacked would the pilots really be able to direct the flight to a certain destination?

[mewzilla]

Well, trust but verify.

[Danae]

Heavy means that it is likely about the size of a 747 and full o people.

[NeoCaveman]

Awaiting the DUmmies to blame Bush. Should happen any minute now.

[kcvl]

Thanks for the explanation.

[Jet Jaguar]

ping

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Does anyone know if there is a code (verbal or otherwise) to confirm or deny an "all is well" statement from a pilot?

[tear_down_this_wall]

What does the 'heavy' designation mean?

They're flying on Jerry Nadler.

[mystery-ak]

if they don't obey the fighter pilots, it will be shot down

[NautiNurse]

271 pax, 17 crew

[Moose4]

Those planes have a transponder on them, and when they are issued their clearance to depart, they're issued a four-digit code from 0000 to 7777 called a "squawk" code. The crew dial the code into the transponder. Air traffic controllers then use the specific code from the transponder to identify that particular aircraft. (The transponder replies to the radar signal from the ground, and sends the code, the plane's altitude and airspeed and other info back to the ground, and that's displayed on the controllers' screens.) There are three specific codes that never get randomly assigned, and are always treated seriously:

7500 - hijack
7600 - radio failure
7700 - inflight emergency

I don't know if there's others or not, or if there's a single button they can push to instantly squawk 7500 or 7700. I'm just a plane geek, not a real pilot (sadly).

}:-)4

[shibumi]

Heavy means it's a Jumbo Jet.

[mewzilla]

Is there a 7499 or a 7501 that he could've meant to dial instead? I'd think that number would be pretty isolated so that nothing was hit by accident.

[Mo1]

FNC is reporting on this now

[derheimwill]

Virgin Air (per CNN and Fox) say it's a false alarm. Homeland Security (per Fox) confirms hijack.