Pilots on a Delta Airlines plane got a rather rude welcoming on Saturday as they attempted to land at Ben-Gurion International Airport. Failing to broadcast a security code in an allotted time frame might have cost them dearly.
From Haaretz:
The National Pilots Association expressed firm opposition yesterday to a new system designed to prevent hijackings and terror attacks, after failings were revealed Saturday.
A Delta Airlines crew seeking to land at Ben-Gurion International Airport on Saturday failed to identify itself in keeping with the system to identify hijacked planes, Code Positive, which is currently in pilot. Israel Air Force planes were scrambled in response, even though this case turned out to be a false alarm. “On Saturday one of this system’s many potential failings was seen,” pilot association chair Boaz Hativa told Haaretz yesterday. He added that the association would determine its official stance on the system after the pilot was completed.
This is obviously not a fail proof system. While in principle a good idea what’s to say a flight might have disabled communications gear? The Code Positive system won’t be a sole source of information ($deity willing) when dealing with a potential hijacking. Just hope that the IDF keeps it in the holster when dealing with these situations.