Imagine you’re on a plane and it lands – but you leave without your belongings and your hands above your head.

That’s what happened to passengers aboard an SA Airlink plane on Monday, after it landed at Wonderboom airport in Pretoria. The plane stood on the runway for two hours while special task force teams dealt with the situation.

Passengers initially thought they had been hijacked after they were escorted off the plane and into the terminal. Rofhiwa Mudau explained his reactions:

I didn’t know what to do because the flight was just standing there in the runway without any movement. We initially were not getting any feedback.

A couple of passengers we were with went online and that is when they read reports that the aircraft has just been hijacked. But then after that the captain came in and he squashed those reports.

The false alert was set off 10 minutes before the plane was due to land – but it was a mere technical error.

Once the passengers were safely in the terminal, staff offered them water while the police, the army, medical and fire personnel approached the plane.

SA Airlink chief executive Rodger Foster issued an apology on Monday after the incident:

I want to acknowledge and thank our incredible customers and crew for their patience and calm during what must clearly have been an anxious and distressing time this afternoon.

The safety and well-being of our customers and staff is our top priority. Although the procedures that had to be followed caused frustration and inconvenience, they enabled the Police’s Special Task Force to take every possible step to ensure that the aircraft and all on board were safe and free of any threat. For the Special Task Force and their dedication to their task, we are thankful.

While all this is awfully unnecessary, it’s good to know that despite the false alarm the response team was on point.

[iol&news24]