Police link Nuremberg airport alert to possible wrong cockpit code

A pilot may have accidentally transmitted a hijacking code while trying to report a radio failure, Middle Franconia police said on October 14, according to DPA. The explanation is based on preliminary findings.

The incident involved a Corendon Airlines flight from Corfu to Nuremberg on October 13. Nuremberg Airport temporarily suspended operations, but the aircraft landed safely, authorities gave the all-clear and flights resumed that day.

Police said the pilot intended to indicate a communications failure but entered code 7500, which signals a possible hijacking. Controllers could not reach the cockpit by radio, preventing an immediate clarification of the alert.

RIA Novosti, citing DPA, reported that police were not investigating the pilot because they believed he was unaware of the mistake. The explanation concerns the origin of a false alert, rather than evidence of an attempted hijacking.