There was a massive police response at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Officials called the incident a “suspicious situation.”
The incident took place on board Air Europa flight UX1094 to Madrid that had been due to take off this evening.
Shortly after 8.30PM, the military police issued a new message stating that the passengers and crew were safely out out of the plane.
It then soon was reported that that the incident was a false alarm and that the pilot had pressed the emergency button by accident. In line with airport protocol, the emergency services were then alerted.
“We deeply apologize”, Air Europa said on Twitter.
#AirEuropaInfo Falsa Alarma. En el vuelo Ámsterdam – Madrid, esta tarde se activó, por error, un aviso que pone en marcha protocolos sobre secuestros en el aeropuerto. No ha pasado nada, todos los pasajeros se encuentran perfectamente esperando poder volar pronto. Lo lamentamos.
— Air Europa (@AirEuropa) November 6, 2019
Among the rumors circulating on social media were that three men armed with knives were on the plane, that heavily-armed special service police officers had boarded the plane to evacuate the passengers and that Utrecht central railway station had also been evacuated because of a security issue.
Currently at Amsterdam Airport where a hostage on a plane has closed the concourse. Security surrounding the plane, which I can see outside the window. @Schiphol #hostage
— Wall Street West Coast (@Colin_Sebastian) November 6, 2019
Monitoring #Grip3 situation at Schiphol. Large amount of EMS vehicles responds to the Amsterdam airport. pic.twitter.com/7dosPoVjPP
— Bastiaan Slabbers (@BasSlabbers) November 6, 2019
Op dit moment onderzoeken wij een verdachte situatie aan boord van een vliegtuig op #schiphol. Nadere mededelingen volgen.
— Koninklijke Marechaussee (@Marechaussee) November 6, 2019
Security lock down at #schipol anyone knows what's going on at #ams #AmsterdamAirport? pic.twitter.com/Le4zEpiXn5
— Kat Wolseley (@KatWolseley) November 6, 2019
