Atlas Jet hijack attempt in Turkey

[Xyn_Air]

You can read the BBC article here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6952594.stm

What I think is a key part of that article is the following:

The plane had been two hours into its journey when two men tried to forced their way into the cockpit.

When they did not succeed, the men asked to be flown to Iran, but the plane landed in Antalya.

Since 9/11, I think there has been a significant drop in the number of hijack attempts (only four in the last 6 years until this attempt).  I was wondering if any changes in how hijack attempts are handled and how access to the cockpit is controlled would have any significant effect on hijackings.  Of the last five hijack attempts (including this one), it seems that using the threat of explosives on the plane continue to make it difficult to prevent hijackings (you don't really want to gamble with that particular threat; "I have a bomb!" "Oh, yeah? Prove it!" - not really a conversational option).

Thankfully, in this present incident (still in progress as I write), most of the passengers and crew have already been able to escape from the plane.  It does seem that weapons (guns, knives, and such) are becoming more difficult to smuggle on board,and this may make capturing the hijacker, escaping or rescuing passengers, and controlling the overall situation easier to do.

Best wishes to the passengers and crew that still remain aboard,
~Darrin

[expat]

You can read the BBC article here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6952594.stm

What I think is a key part of that article is the following:

The plane had been two hours into its journey when two men tried to forced their way into the cockpit.

When they did not succeed, the men asked to be flown to Iran, but the plane landed in Antalya.

I was wondering if any changes in how hijack attempts are handled and how access to the cockpit is controlled would have any significant effect on hijackings.

The FAA, CAA and the LBA all have standards for cockpit door access. An aircraft of 737 and above (I think. I worked on an ATR last week that still had the old door, also CRJ has nothing new) have to have a door that is magnetically latched and a backup manual bolting system. Before you ask, trust me, you will not open the door when it is magnetically latched. Under certian conditions it is possible, but we will not be discussing that. The magnetic lock enables the crew to unlock the door at the flick of a switch to let in the air waitress flight attendant without having to leave their seat. The manual reversion can be used if the system is U/S or as a back up if some one is trying to gain access.

That is the basic answer, do not ask me anything else about it because I will not tell..............end of discussion  ;)(in the nicest possible way.)

As for how a hijack is handled, that will be down to company policy, however that policy will not include opening the cockpit door because once the hijacker has access to the cockpit, well we have seen the result of that. Ironically, if the CAA, FAA and LBA had reacted to the numerous hijackings of the 70's and 80's, and passed regulations back then, maybe 911 could have been prevented, but as usual 20/20 hindsight is a great thing to have.

Matt

[beaky]

Of the last five hijack attempts (including this one), it seems that using the threat of explosives on the plane continue to make it difficult to prevent hijackings (you don't really want to gamble with that particular threat; "I have a bomb!" "Oh, yeah? Prove it!" - not really a conversational option).

I can't remember even one hijacking  where a bomb was proven to be aboard (although people have been caught trying to get bombs aboard planes, like the charming Jordanian gentleman who hid one in his pregnant fiancee's hand luggage in 1986 )... generally, if a bomb is used, it is detonated automatically or remotely... without warning.  

Supposedly at least one of the 9/11 teams used the "we've got a bomb" strategy  to get control of the plane. So in my mind, the safest assumption in the threatened-bomb scenario  is that they are bluffing, and intend to commandeer the aircraft and use it as a weapon. My reasoning is that's the worst possible scenario (yes, even worse than a plane exploding), so it's foolish to grant any concession that might give them that chance.

Anybody ever stands up and says "I've got a bomb!" on any flight I'm aboard, I will just jump on them and try to kill them. If I have to die that way, I'm going down swinging. And frankly, I'd rather die than spend God-knows-how-long sitting on the ramp somewhere while negotiations are made... there should be no negotiating, IMHO.
 If potential hijackers were assured of this attitude from crews and pax on any given flight, they would not even try.

[FsNovice]

Safe conclusion, just seen this on the bbc website

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6952594.stm

[Ivan]

Plane involved was a MD8x... leased from World Focus.

Hijackers gave up after they didnt got an aircrew to fly them to their destination... as the pilots left the plane with 90% of the passengers.

Anyway this whole thing smells from the first second on...
1: Plane left Ercan airport (thats northern Cyprus) so an independent investiagation is close to impossible
2: Al Quaeda guys that want to fly to iran... dont make me laugh.

To me it looks more like a staged action by the military... a futile attempt to prevent mr Gul to become president