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.

[Moose4]

"Look, look out the window, dear, there's a nice man out there in a jet fighter. But why is he wearing a toque over his helmet?"

"Hmm, must be Canadian."

}:-)4

[ml/nj]

Thanks for the explanation.

Beware of explanations.

I haven't flown for a number of years now, and maybe things have changed, but when I flew transponders didn't have "squawk buttons." You just dialed in the code (four separate digit wheels) assigned by ATC. It's pretty hard to "accidentaly" dial in the hijack code unless one really intended to dial in the emergency code (7700, I think. And 7600 is used for something too.) instead.

ML/NJ

[jaydubya2]

Why would people be relieved to see a fighter escort. Don't they know what the purpose of the fighter is? TO SHOOT THEM DOWN!

[Petronski]

It was JFK bound, is all.

Happy dental hygeine!

[mewzilla]

Thanks, doesn't sound so much like a big boo-boo then as much as a false alarm? Hopefully.

[Dad yer funny]

yeah , having lunch with Howard Cosell

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

Yes, pilots know this. Does everyone reading the web?

[Quilla]

Someone upthread suggested a malfunction in the squawk box. Leaving it on may allow the pilot to get through this without a reprimand.

[kcvl]

Well SOME people are strange...LOL!

[Duke809]

7700 is standard ICAO hijack code. Both civilain and military use 7500,7600, and 7700. It's not secret.

If you sqawk 7700 and it's not a hijack, well, good luck to you

[Truth'sfriend]

The term "Heavy" refers to transport category aircraft over a certain weight threshold. Aircraft in this category include (among others) the 767,777,747,C5, C17 and the A340.
ATC will include in an aircraft's ID the additional description of "Heavy", when communicating with the aircraft, to alert other aircraft. "Heavies" have additional separation requirements from other aircraft because of a larger wake turbulence "foot print".

[mewzilla]

I wasn't aware Canada had fighter jets. That flew anyway.

[PilloryHillary]

'Hijacker could be kneeling behind the pilot so he wouldn't be visible to the jets....why doesn't the pilot turn off the squawk box if everything is ok?'

GOOD question!

[Trueblackman]

Someone needs to get the jack ready, Dean was returning to American with the Downing Street Memos.

[Graymatter]

>>Is there a 7499 or a 7501 that he could've meant to dial instead?

Yes, if he was tapping it out in Hand Jive.

[Petronski]

I wasn't aware Canada had fighter jets.

Spits and Mosquitoes, RAF surplus.

[SeeRushToldU_So]

You are awesome, and you cook.

[azhenfud]

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

It means the crew is overweight and is a jargon request to have plenty of grub available when the plane lands.

Just joking.....as others have already noted - it's a big aircraft.

[relee]

I saw the blonde and blonde on MSNBC talking about a bomb threat on a flight one of them was on some time ago. Commercial now. Great graphic too, showing the flight path from London to NY via the Azores. It looked more like a smile than a great circle.

[PilloryHillary]

Pilot says he tried to get hijack code to turn off and it won't due to a malfunction...this according to Rush's girlfriend on CNN.