Joke Text Message Triggers Terror Alert

Solauren · Post by **Solauren** » 2004-12-19 10:39am

Joke Text Message Triggers Terror Alert

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - An Italian tourist aboard a flight from Sydney to Vienna caused an international security alert after he sent a joke text message from his cell phone to his wife claiming his plane had been hijacked by terrorists, the Australian government confirmed Sunday.

The man, Antonio Casale, 35, sent the message to his wife from Kuala Lumpur during a refueling stop on a Lauda Air flight from Sydney last Sunday night, Sydney's Sunday Telegraph newspaper reported.

Transport Minister John Anderson's spokesman confirmed the newspaper report.

Casale claimed terrorists were in control of the plane and were taking the passengers to an unknown destination.

His distressed wife contacted Italian police, who immediately contacted the Italian embassy in Canberra, who in turn contacted Australian Federal Police.

Anderson's spokesman said authorities were able to quickly establish Casale's identity and discover the message was a hoax.

The pilot was reportedly contacted while in flight by counterterrorism negotiators, who found him oblivious to any hijacking attempt.

``The Italian police picked up on it, then the Italian embassy, the Australian Federal Police came in on it and it was quite a big operation,'' Anderson's spokesman said on condition of anonymity.

``Federal police and other authorities over here have got enough on their plate without having to worry about stupidity like this as well,'' he added.

The Sunday Telegraph reported Casale was taken aside by the plane's captain and detained by police when the plane landed in Vienna.

He was questioned by police and later released without charge.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2004-12-19 10:42am

He was "questioned" by police?

"Are you a FUCKING IDIOT, Mr. Casale?"

Stofsk · Post by **Stofsk** » 2004-12-19 11:59am

I love it. There's a very potent 'Monty Python' feel to this story. Like a domino effect of absurdity.

Stunning.

Nieztchean Uber-Amoeba · Post by **Nieztchean Uber-Amoeba** » 2004-12-19 12:37pm

Heheh.

frigidmagi · Post by **frigidmagi** » 2004-12-19 12:42pm

There's a guy who needs some up close and personal time with a rubber hose or two.

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2004-12-19 01:07pm

No wonder we are slipping into more MacCarthy style paranoia. They even checked with the pilot, found that there was no hijacking in process and still triggered a Terror Alert! Why is it even after truth of the event is assertained, they still act like the sky is falling?

However, the guy who sent the message is a complete douche. Not because of the Terror Alert it caused, but because he lead his wife on to think that he was being hijacked. She needs to crack him in the knees with a bat.

Luzifer's right hand · Post by **Luzifer's right hand** » 2004-12-19 01:29pm

HemlockGrey wrote:He was "questioned" by police?

"Are you a FUCKING IDIOT, Mr. Casale?"

Maybe the asked him if he is a "Bleedes Oaschloch"?

Wired_Grenadier · Post by **Wired_Grenadier** » 2004-12-19 01:51pm

Well, if he's from northern Italy...

Post by **Broomstick** » 2004-12-19 03:32pm

WHEN are people going to learn that you do not

* Yell "fire" in a crowded theater
* Joke with security screeners about bombs
* Say "hijack" during an airplane flight?

I can't speak for the rest of the world, but I was informed at more than one FAA safety seminar that should a civilian pilot inadvertently signal a hijacking to ATC said pilot should expect an escort to the runway as they (the authorities) want to be absolutely sure there are no hostiles on board. Given that there have been pilot-hijackers in the recent past perhaps that is not as unreasonable a precaution as it first appears.

Nieztchean Uber-Amoeba · Post by **Nieztchean Uber-Amoeba** » 2004-12-19 04:19pm

Broomstick wrote:WHEN are people going to learn that you do not

* Yell "fire" in a crowded theater
* Joke with security screeners about bombs
* Say "hijack" during an airplane flight?

I've done one of those things, but I won't say which.

Chardok · Post by **Chardok** » 2004-12-20 06:53am

Gil Hamilton wrote:No wonder we are slipping into more MacCarthy style paranoia. They even checked with the pilot, found that there was no hijacking in process and still triggered a Terror Alert! Why is it even after truth of the event is assertained, they still act like the sky is falling?

Gil, come on.

Tower: Is there a hijacking in progress?
Pilot: No.
Tower: He's being coerced. If I were a terrorist, and I'm hijacking a plane...do I want people to know about it before I'm good and ready?
Tower: Let me rephrase that, Is there.....a pizza on board the plane?
Pilot: I'm not sure what you mean....there are pizzas in the Galley....
Tower: That's it. Scramble the tornados.

I'm just saying that just because the pilot says there's no hijacking doesn't necessarily mean there isn't one...know what I mean?

Grand Admiral Thrawn · Post by **Grand Admiral Thrawn** » 2004-12-20 10:12am

Don't they have some sort of code word to say that sounds normal but really means "OMFG HIJACKER!"

Post by **Ghost Rider** » 2004-12-20 10:27am

Broomstick wrote:WHEN are people going to learn that you do not

* Yell "fire" in a crowded theater
* Joke with security screeners about bombs
* Say "hijack" during an airplane flight?

Because in the end...a far too large majority of people are dumb.

This man falls into the part of being the douche, and doesn't realize that the authorities are on really tense situations.

You do, but the man was an obvious fucking moron.

Personally the missus and this guy should have a long talk with a pair tweezers and his balls.

Flakin · Post by **Flakin** » 2004-12-20 11:07am

I've seen a guy get pulled kicking and screaming from a line at London Gatwick because he felt it necessary to joke about having a bomb or a gun in his luggage. And this was before 9/11.

You.

Don't.

Fuck.

With.

Flight.

Just nod, answer the questions, say thanks and move on. Its not a difficult concept. Once on the flight, sit quietly, eat the cardboard food, land and get off and then resume being whatever wacky comedy buffoonery you see fit...

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2004-12-20 11:56am

Figures that it was an Italian. Italians haven't taken the government seriously for centuries.

Post by **fgalkin** » 2004-12-20 12:02pm

Gil Hamilton wrote:No wonder we are slipping into more MacCarthy style paranoia. They even checked with the pilot, found that there was no hijacking in process and still triggered a Terror Alert! Why is it even after truth of the event is assertained, they still act like the sky is falling?

However, the guy who sent the message is a complete douche. Not because of the Terror Alert it caused, but because he lead his wife on to think that he was being hijacked. She needs to crack him in the knees with a bat.

Becuase the pilot may be forced to tell them that everything is fine when it is not.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

Sharp-kun · Post by **Sharp-kun** » 2004-12-20 12:24pm

Gil Hamilton wrote:No wonder we are slipping into more MacCarthy style paranoia. They even checked with the pilot, found that there was no hijacking in process and still triggered a Terror Alert! Why is it even after truth of the event is assertained, they still act like the sky is falling?

Because there may be a situation where the pilot is being forced to respons with an "all clear".

Chardok · Post by **Chardok** » 2004-12-20 04:50pm

Grand Admiral Thrawn wrote:Don't they have some sort of code word to say that sounds normal but really means "OMFG HIJACKER!"

This, actually is a good point, and it seems so obvious. I doubt, however, that such a simple programme has been implemented, though. in fact, I would fully support the code word being Oh emm eff gee.

pilot: Heathrow 27 niner, this is italy air oh em eff gee, requesting weather update for vector seven zero four.
Heathrow tower: Copy, Italy oh em eff gee, be advised forecast is overcast with visibility at mmfmgmf, over.
pilot: I copy visibility at four zero miles, Dresden, over.
Heathrow: uh, roger, oh em eff gee, be advised heavy traffic at your altitude, bearing zero seven niner dresden four, over.
Pilot: Roger, heathrow, I copy heavy traffic.
Heathrow: Severe storms also excpected out of dresden, sightings of tornados on the ground, over.
Pilot: Roger, Heathrow, maintaining present course.

Translation:
Hijackers on board, please help.
Okay, confirm hijackers?
Yep. Hijackers. We're fourty miles outside dresden.
No problem, need escort?
Yep.
Okay, scrambling tornados to your altitude and heading.
Roger that, we ain't goin' nowhere.

EmperorChrostas the Cruel · Post by **EmperorChrostas the Cruel** » 2004-12-20 11:44pm

And if the pilot has been replaced, ala 911 is the replacement going to tell the truth?
Once the call of "terrorist on board" is heared, NOTHING is ever taken on face value from the plain. It is ASSUMED communication has been compromised, until the plain is PHYSICALY checked.

President Sharky · Post by **President Sharky** » 2004-12-20 11:55pm

This guy shouldn't have been released without charges for causing such a major panic in the airport.

Post by **Beowulf** » 2004-12-21 12:54am

Chardok wrote:
Grand Admiral Thrawn wrote:Don't they have some sort of code word to say that sounds normal but really means "OMFG HIJACKER!"
This, actually is a good point, and it seems so obvious.

Here's the problem. How are you going to make sure that every airline pilot knows this word, without the hijackers also knowing this word.

Hendrake · Post by **Hendrake** » 2004-12-21 06:25am

Wonderful, just what I needed, another asshat making me ashamed of being Italian...

Post by **Broomstick** » 2004-12-21 06:36am

Beowulf wrote:
Chardok wrote:
Grand Admiral Thrawn wrote:Don't they have some sort of code word to say that sounds normal but really means "OMFG HIJACKER!"
This, actually is a good point, and it seems so obvious.
Here's the problem. How are you going to make sure that every airline pilot knows this word, without the hijackers also knowing this word.

Which is, exactly, the point.

Yes, pilots DO have means of letting ATC know they are hijacked without screaming "OHMYFUCKINGGOD!!!! THERE ARE BAD GUYS ON BOARD!!!" over the radio. You can, for instance, use the transponder to signal this without using voice communications at all. I've heard that airline pilots do have code words for communicating with their dispatch departments, but that's a little hard to confirm because the airlines would just as soon keep mum on the details. You can simply start deviating from commands and if you do so enough, or enter forbidden airspace, they'll intercept you on general principal.

The problem is... you get someone like a Mohammad Atta and HE'S going to know those codes and signals because he's a pilot, too and it makes it much more risky to either signal or to respond truthfully to ATC. If such a hijacker sees the pilot has dialed the "Help! I'm hijacked!" code into the transponder this could have Bad Consequences.

So no, it's not paranoia and, in fact, this is not even new since 9/11/01 - just taken a bit more seriously than ever before.