Flight SA8676, outbound from Cape Town to Wonderboom, reportedly sent out an alert detailing that it had been hijacked before it was revealed to be a false alarm.
SA Airlink has publicly denied reports that one of its aircraft – flight SA8676, outbound from Cape Town to Wonderboom – had been hijacked and has stated that the flight’s radar system sent out an incorrect signal.
Following the broadcast of a distress signal, SA Airlink has confirmed that all 72 passengers and four crew members aboard SA8676 are safe.
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Flight 8678 was scheduled to depart from Cape Town International Airport at 10AM (UTC+2) and land at Wonderboom at 12:15PM.
Accounts across social media platforms proliferated the report that the airline had been hijacked before SA Airlink was able to respond and determine whether its passengers and crew were safe.
The airline, which shortly thereafter took to Twitter to address reports that one its flights had been hijacked in the air, stated that the alert “appears to be an anomaly”.
We confirm that hijack alert for SA8678 on 11 July 2016 from CT to Wonderboom appears to be an anomaly. 72 passengers & 4 crew members safe.
“” Airlink (@Fly_Airlink) July 11, 2016
“We have been in contact with our pilots & can confirm that no hijacking has taken place,” SA Airlink tweeted.
Upon landing, flight SA8676 remained stationary on Runway 29 at Wonderboom Airport as a precautionary measure. Police attended to the craft before passengers were allowed to disembark at approximately 14:00PM.
SA Airlink has promised an internal investigation into the transmission to determine why the hijacking distress signal was sent out erroneously.
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What are your thoughts on the false distress signal sent out by SA8676? Could the alert have been issued by faulty hardware, software, or human error? Be sure to let us know your perspective in the comments below!
Follow Bryan Smith on Twitter: @bryansmithSA
