Virgin passenger plane hijacked on way to Bali: report
A drunk Australian has been arrested after trying to get into the cockpit of a Virgin flight 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.
Police were on stand-by when the Boeing 737-800 landed in Denpasar on Friday afternoon, after pilots reported an intoxicated, aggressive man was banging on the cockpit door.
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 28-year-old Australian Matt Christopher Lockley, 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.
Initial reports that there had been an attempted hijacking aboard the plane were a "miscommunication", he said.
"What happened was there was a drunk person ... too much alcohol consumption caused him to act aggressively."
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.
The airline denied the incident was a hijacking.
"There are incorrect reports that a Virgin Australia aircraft was hijacked on route to Denpasar this is not correct," the airline said in a statement.
"The aircraft in question has landed safely and at no point was the safety of our passengers ever in question. "
"The Boeing 737-800 aircraft landed safely at Denpasar airport at 15.16 local and all 137 passengers and 7 crew have since disembarked. At no point was the safety of the aircraft in question."
"There was a disruptive passenger on board and the pilot notified authorities in advance of landing, as per standard operating procedures. The passenger was unarmed and is now in the custody of the Indonesian authorities. "
