Flight security alert caused by badly named wi-fi hotspot
A badly named wi-fi hotspot caused a security scare on a Qantas flight over the weekend.
According to reports, a passenger spotted a hotspot called Mobile Detonation Device on her phone’s wi-fi menu shortly after she boarded flight QF481 in Melbourne on Saturday.
She showed it to the crew, who then informed the captain and security, and an announcement was made saying the flight would be delayed because a ‘device’ needed to be found.
After a thorough but fruitless search, the plane was eventually cleared for take-off.
But around 40 passengers refused to fly, which caused further delays as their luggage had to be take off.
Qantas told local media there had been no security risk and the flight landed safely in Perth about two hours behind schedule.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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