VA41 Virgin Plane NOT Hijacked... It Was A 'Drunk Passenger,' Says Virgin Official | HuffPost

Virgin Plane NOT Hijacked... It Was A 'Drunk Passenger'

The Huffington Post UK

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A drunken passenger has been arrested after a captain told authorities his plane had been "hijacked."

The passenger sparked fears of a hijacking after trying to break into the cockpit of the Virgin passenger plane, according to reports.

Armed Indonesian Air Force soldiers secure the Virgin Australia 737-800 plane on the tarmac at Denpasar airport in the resort island of Bali.

Virgin officials have told AFP news agency the VA41 Bali plane incident was a "misunderstanding."

According to local media in Indonesia, the plane is currently at Bali's international airport and a man has been arrested. All 139 passengers are said to be safe.

It is understood that the aircraft is a Virgin Blue Airlines, also known as Virgin Australia – the country’s second largest airline.

According to an Indonesian transport official the captain raised the alarm after a passenger, reportedly a 28-year-old Australian, tried to enter the cockpit.

The man was reportedly restrained by the cabin crew and then arrested when the plane touched down at the Indonesian island's Denpasar airport, where troops entered the aircraft.

The story continues below

Virgin Australia plane lands in Bali

Virgin Australia Plane Lands In Bali Amid Reports Of Hijacking(01 of18)

DENPASAR, BALI, INDONESIA - APRIL 25: Australian Matt Christopher, (C), a passenger of Virgin Blue Australia Airplane, who is believed to have tried to enter the cockpit, is arrested by Indonesian millitary officers at International Ngurah Rai airport in Denpasar on April 25, 2014 in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia. Early reports suggested an attempt to hijack a Virgin Australia had occured mid-flight, although Virgin has since clarified that the disturbance was caused by a drunk passenger acting aggressively and attempting to enter the cockpit. (Photo by Agung Parameswara/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

INDONESIA-AVIATION-VIRGIN(02 of18)

Matt Christophers Lockley (L) of Australian is arrested by Indonesian police officers after landing on the Virgin Australia 737-800 plane at Ngurah Rai airport in Denpasar on the resort island of Bali on April 25, 2014. A drunk passenger sparked a hijacking alert on a Virgin Australia flight from Brisbane heading for the Indonesian resort island of Bali on April 25 when he attempted to break into the cockpit, officials said. AFP PHOTO / SONNY TUMBELAKA (Photo credit should read SONNY TUMBELAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

INDONESIA-AVIATION-VIRGIN(03 of18)

Matt Christophers Lockley (C) of Australian is arrested by Indonesian police officers after landing on the Virgin Australia 737-800 plane at Ngurah Rai airport in Denpasar on the resort island of Bali on April 25, 2014. A drunk passenger sparked a hijacking alert on a Virgin Australia flight from Brisbane heading for the Indonesian resort island of Bali on April 25 when he attempted to break into the cockpit, officials said. AFP PHOTO / SONNY TUMBELAKA (Photo credit should read SONNY TUMBELAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

INDONESIA-AVIATION-VIRGIN(04 of18)

Matt Christophers Lockley (R) of Australian is arrested by Indonesian police officers after landing on the Virgin Australia 737-800 plane at Ngurah Rai airport in Denpasar on the resort island of Bali on April 25, 2014. A drunk passenger sparked a hijacking alert on a Virgin Australia flight from Brisbane heading for the Indonesian resort island of Bali on April 25 when he attempted to break into the cockpit, officials said. AFP PHOTO / SONNY TUMBELAKA (Photo credit should read SONNY TUMBELAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

INDONESIA-AVIATION-VIRGIN(05 of18)

Matt Christophers Lockley (C) of Australian is arrested by Indonesian police officers after landing on the Virgin Australia 737-800 plane at Ngurah Rai airport in Denpasar on the resort island of Bali on April 25, 2014. A drunk passenger sparked a hijacking alert on a Virgin Australia flight from Brisbane heading for the Indonesian resort island of Bali on April 25 when he attempted to break into the cockpit, officials said. AFP PHOTO / SONNY TUMBELAKA (Photo credit should read SONNY TUMBELAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

Virgin Australia Plane Lands In Bali Amid Reports Of Hijacking(06 of18)

DENPASAR, BALI, INDONESIA - APRIL 25: Australian Matt Christopher, (C), a passenger of Virgin Blue Australia Airplane, who is believed to have tried to enter the cockpit, is arrested by Indonesian millitary officers at International Ngurah Rai airport in Denpasar on April 25, 2014 in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia. Early reports suggested an attempt to hijack a Virgin Australia had occured mid-flight, although Virgin has since clarified that the disturbance was caused by a drunk passenger acting aggressively and attempting to enter the cockpit. (Photo by Agung Parameswara/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

Virgin Australia Plane Lands In Bali Amid Reports Of Hijacking(07 of18)

DENPASAR, BALI, INDONESIA - APRIL 25: Australian Matt Christopher, (C), a passenger of Virgin Blue Australia Airplane, who is believed to have tried to enter the cockpit, is arrested by Indonesian millitary officers at International Ngurah Rai airport in Denpasar on April 25, 2014 in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia. Early reports suggested an attempt to hijack a Virgin Australia had occured mid-flight, although Virgin has since clarified that the disturbance was caused by a drunk passenger acting aggressively and attempting to enter the cockpit. (Photo by Agung Parameswara/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

INDONESIA-AVIATION-VIRGIN(08 of18)

Armed Indonesian Air Force soldiers secure the Virgin Australia 737-800 plane at the tarmac of Denpasar airport in the resort island of Bali on April 25, 2014. A drunk passenger sparked a hijacking alert on a Virgin Australia flight from Brisbane heading for the Indonesian resort island of Bali on April 25 when he attempted to break into the cockpit, officials said. AFP PHOTO / SONNY TUMBELAKA (Photo credit should read SONNY TUMBELAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

INDONESIA-AVIATION-VIRGIN(09 of18)

Armed Indonesian Air Force soldiers secure the Virgin Australia 737-800 plane at the tarmac of Denpasar airport in the resort island of Bali on April 25, 2014. A drunk passenger sparked a hijacking alert on a Virgin Australia flight from Brisbane heading for the Indonesian resort island of Bali on April 25 when he attempted to break into the cockpit, officials said. AFP PHOTO / SONNY TUMBELAKA (Photo credit should read SONNY TUMBELAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

INDONESIA-AVIATION-VIRGIN(10 of18)

Armed Indonesian Air Force soldiers secure the Virgin Australia 737-800 plane at the tarmac of Denpasar airport in the resort island of Bali on April 25, 2014. A drunk passenger sparked a hijacking alert on a Virgin Australia flight from Brisbane heading for the Indonesian resort island of Bali on April 25 when he attempted to break into the cockpit, officials said. AFP PHOTO / SONNY TUMBELAKA (Photo credit should read SONNY TUMBELAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

INDONESIA-AVIATION-VIRGIN(11 of18)

Armed Indonesian Air Force soldiers secure the Virgin Australia 737-800 plane at the tarmac of Denpasar airport in the resort island of Bali on April 25, 2014. A drunk passenger sparked a hijacking alert on a Virgin Australia flight from Brisbane heading for the Indonesian resort island of Bali on April 25 when he attempted to break into the cockpit, officials said. AFP PHOTO / SONNY TUMBELAKA (Photo credit should read SONNY TUMBELAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

INDONESIA-AVIATION-VIRGIN(12 of18)

Armed Indonesian Air Force soldiers secure a Virgin Australia 737-800 plane on the tarmac at Denpasar airport in the resort island of Bali on April 25, 2014. A drunk passenger sparked a hijacking alert on April 25 on a Virgin Australia flight from Brisbane heading for the Indonesian resort island of Bali when he attempted to break into the cockpit, officials said. AFP PHOTO / SONNY TUMBELAKA (Photo credit should read SONNY TUMBELAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

INDONESIA-AVIATION-VIRGIN(13 of18)

Armed Indonesian Air Force soldiers secure the Virgin Australia 737-800 plane on the tarmac at Denpasar airport in the resort island of Bali on April 25, 2014. A drunk passenger sparked a hijacking alert on a Virgin Australia flight from Brisbane heading for the Indonesian resort island of Bali when he attempted to break into the cockpit, officials said. AFP PHOTO / SONNY TUMBELAKA (Photo credit should read SONNY TUMBELAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

INDONESIA-AVIATION-VIRGIN(14 of18)

Armed Indonesian Air Force soldiers secure the Virgin Australia 737-800 plane on the tarmac at Denpasar airport in the resort island of Bali on April 25, 2014. A drunk passenger sparked a hijacking alert on a Virgin Australia flight from Brisbane heading for the Indonesian resort island of Bali when he attempted to break into the cockpit, officials said. AFP PHOTO / SONNY TUMBELAKA (Photo credit should read SONNY TUMBELAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

INDONESIA-AVIATION-VIRGIN(15 of18)

Armed Indonesian Air Force soldiers secure the Virgin Australia 737-800 plane on the tarmac at Denpasar airport in the resort island of Bali on April 25, 2014. A drunk passenger sparked a hijacking alert on a Virgin Australia flight from Brisbane heading for the Indonesian resort island of Bali when he attempted to break into the cockpit, officials said. AFP PHOTO / SONNY TUMBELAKA (Photo credit should read SONNY TUMBELAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

INDONESIA-AVIATION-VIRGIN(16 of18)

Armed Indonesian Air Force soldiers secure the Virgin Australia 737-800 plane at the tarmac of Denpasar airport in the resort island of Bali on April 25, 2014. A drunk passenger sparked a hijacking alert on a Virgin Australia flight from Brisbane heading for the Indonesian resort island of Bali on April 25 when he attempted to break into the cockpit, officials said. AFP PHOTO / SONNY TUMBELAKA (Photo credit should read SONNY TUMBELAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

INDONESIA-AVIATION-VIRGIN(17 of18)

Armed Indonesian Air Force soldiers secure the Virgin Australia 737-800 plane at the tarmac of Denpasar airport in the resort island of Bali on April 25, 2014. A drunk passenger sparked a hijacking alert on a Virgin Australia flight from Brisbane heading for the Indonesian resort island of Bali on April 25 when he attempted to break into the cockpit, officials said. AFP PHOTO / SONNY TUMBELAKA (Photo credit should read SONNY TUMBELAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

INDONESIA-AVIATION-VIRGIN(18 of18)

This photo taken through the window of a plane shows a Virgin Australia plane at the centre of a hijacking scare sitting on the tarmac at Bali airport in Denpasar on April 25, 2014. A drunk passenger on a Virgin Australia plane was arrested at Bali airport after triggering a hijack alert when he attempted to enter the cockpit, airline and Indonesian officials said on April 25. AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

"We got information that a 737-800 from Brisbane to Bali has been hijacked," Indonesian air force spokesman Hadi Tjahjanto told Metro TV television station.

However, a Virgin official later denied that the plane had ever been hijacked, TV sources said.

Palani Mohan, a passenger on a Garuda flight that was about to take off from Bali, told Sky News: "The captain of my plane made an announcement saying we were delayed indefinitely because a hijack was going on in Bali airport, about 150 metres away from us.

"I saw at least five vehicles including military-style trucks, filled with men in uniform, rushing towards the plane.

"Then the Virgin plane taxied away, followed by the convoy of security forces. The flight attendant said it's been taken off to a different part of the airport.

"Bali airport seems to be in lockdown, we've been told no planes will be departing or arriving. The pilot's not allowing anyone off our plane."

A spokeswoman for Virgin Australia said: "There are incorrect reports that a Virgin Australia aircraft was hijacked en route to Denpasar. This is not correct.

"The aircraft in question has landed safely and at no point was the safety of our passengers ever in question."

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