Squawking 7500:
a Turkish aerial hijack exercise
In January 2009, Turkish Airlines held a full-scale hijacking exercise as training
for its staff. It was the first aerial exercise the airline had under taken and it
involved numerous government agencies. Siriol Haf Griffiths was invited aboard
the hijacked plane as an independent observer of the day’s activities.
he day started much as any staff at Turkish Airlines who were cabin, donned black balaclavas and took
T
other day’s air travel would – travelling as passengers, cabin crew and control of the aircraft. One of the hijackers
hand luggage was packed, and cockpit crew were also deliberately went immediately to the cockpit door in an
transport was taken to ignoring each other as they were acting as attempt to force entry.
Istanbul’s Ataturk International independent travellers with a wide range The passengers were forced to put their
airport. As far as those involved of cover stories – diplomats, honeymoon heads down, place their hands above the
in the hijack exercise, everything was to be couples, au pairs, businessmen, and even seats in front and remain silent. The lights
as normal, and that included my own an Icelandic tennis pro! were turned out, the business class section
movements. On arrival at the airport at The flight took off as normal, and as soon was emptied and male passengers were
1300hrs, I checked in for the flight to as the plane was at the appropriate moved to window seats.
London, via Izmir, and proceeded through altitude, a drinks service began on board.
security to the executive lounge. Early on however, there were incidents
Despite having met the 12 members of taking place to test the cabin crew,
the team from Green Light previously, including a disruptive passenger. “elipsisthe Turkish Air Force
which included actors who were to play After thirty minutes, the hijacking of our
hijackers and victims, I had been aeroplane began. One hijacker emerged dispatched two F-16
instructed to ignore everybody and they from the rear bathroom with a gun,
had been instructed to ignore me, as I grabbing hold of a passenger, whilst three fighter jets to flank the
was to be a shadow for the whole day; the more hijackers sprang to their feet in
sole “observer” on board. Indeed, the 130 different sections of the Boeing 737’s kidnapped aircraftelipsis”
24 Register now for FREE instant access to ASI online by visiting
www.asi-mag.com February 2009 Aviationsecurityinternational
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