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.

[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.

[PilloryHillary]

guy on msnbc pointed out that IF the plane is being hijacked, the pilot may not be able to relay that to anyone, so they are being very cautious.

[Petronski]

I'm no aviation person, but I understand "heavy" is air control lingo for a jumbo jet.


A 727 is not "heavy," but a 747-400, nearly full, would be "Virgin 45 Heavy" on ATC.

[SilentServiceCPOWife]

You may have already seen this.

[kcvl]

7700 = EMERGENCY

7600 = RADIO FAILURE

7500 = HI-JACKING


In FS, any code can be used at discretion except those listed above in red : 7700-7600-7500.

When squawking stand-by, controllers can still see the aircraft on their screens but without any tag.

Stand-by is required when on apron, before departure. That way, the pilot does not cause any disturbance in the ground traffic. Stop squawking stand-by when assigned a code (into the departure clearance for instance).

STANDBY mode is accessed via Squawkbox Menu.

Squawk IDENT can also be requested. This highlights the aircraft tag (add 3 slashes) on the scope so that the controller can easily make the difference between two traffics if he/she has a doubt.

IDENT is accessed with the little button in the upper left corner of the Squawkbox window.

[mewzilla]

Thanks!

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Heavy turbulence, normally from wide body aircraft

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

Do we need to broadcast this? Why are the tv stations reporting these types of need to know details? Sheesh.

[NautiNurse]

thanks for the info

[Danae]

No idea, but that would be a very good idea, until the morons that hijack planes get a hole of the code. Have to change it month to month, or perhaps faster than that. Make it specific to each flight, known only to the Pilot before every take off. Pretty interesting idea, could save a TON of effort on the ground in chasing down wild geese.

[Half Vast Conspiracy]

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

Well then, everything is just fine. LOL!