- City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
- Dubai 05:20 06:34 12:33 15:53 18:27 19:40
Indonesian police arrest Matt Christopher, a passenger of Virgin Australia airplane, at Denpasar airport in the resort island of Bali April 25, 2014.The pilot of a Virgin Australia plane flying from Brisbane to Bali on Friday reported a hijacking attempt after a passenger tried to enter the cockpit, an Indonesian transport official said. A Virgin Australia Airlines official said there had not been an attempt to hijack the aircraft but a "flight emergency" after a 28-year-old male passenger who was drunk had banged on the door of the cockpit trying to get in. Crew members seized the passenger, who authorities identified as Matt Christopher from Australia, and handcuffed him. (REUTERS)
An Australian passenger mistook the cockpit door for the toilet, triggering Friday's hijack scare on a Virgin Australia flight from Brisbane to the Indonesian holiday island of Bali, police said.
Matt Lockley told Bali police after his arrest that he banged on what he thought was the toilet door for a last-minute bathroom break before the Boeing 737-800 aircraft landed.
The door was actually the cockpit door and the pilot, Neil Thomas Cooper, responded by alerting Indonesian traffic controllers of a possible hijacking. Crew members then seized Lockley and handcuffed him.
"The flight was about to land and (Lockley) was sleeping. The flight attendant woke him up and he went to the toilet. At the time, he thought the cockpit door was the toilet door," Heri Wiyanto, Bali police spokesman, told Reuters.
Virgin Australia said the 137 passengers and seven crew on board were never in any danger during the flight.
"We can confirm there was a disruptive passenger on board and the pilot notified authorities in advance of landing, as per standard operating procedures," said Virgin spokeswoman Jacqui Abbott.
After taking blood samples from Lockley, police said the Australian had taken several painkillers, including four Panadol and two Voltaren pills. Police initially had said Lockley was drunk.
Lockley, who was travelling to visit his Indonesian wife, was shown on local television shortly after the flight surrounded by armed security and a mob of reporters at the airport. Copies of his identification cards were also shown to the media.
He has not made any public comments about the incident and remains in police custody.
Police said Lockley "was still depressed, so he needs to rest.”
Read earlier report: Drunk passenger tries to hijack Virgin plane
Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.