Virgin passenger plane hijacked on way to Bali: report
A man has been arrested after allegedly trying to enter the cockpit of a plane flying from Brisbane to Bali.
The pilot of a Virgin Australia plane flying to the Indonesian holiday island of Bali reported a hijacking attempt after a passenger tried to enter the cockpit, an Indonesian transport official said.
Metro TV had earlier cited an Indonesian air force spokesman as saying flight VA41 had been hijacked.
"We got information that a 737-800 from Brisbane to Bali has been hijacked," spokesman Hadi Tjahjanto told MetroTV television station.
Virgin Australia airport manager at Ngurah Rai, Heru Sudjatmiko said the drunken passenger, believed to be a 28-year-old Australian man, was stopped by the crew after trying to enter the cockpit before being handcuffed.
Indonesia's army has confirmed the plane is at the end of the runway at Bali's Ngurah Rai airport.
"We are now trying to have communications with the airplane but are still unable to do so," said Major General Fuad Basya.
Virgin Australia Airlines, formerly Virgin Blue Airlines, is Australia's second-largest airline as well as the largest by fleet size to use the Virgin brand.
More to come...
