Cabin Crew Knocked on Cockpit Door, Pilots Mistook It for a Hijacking Attempt

In the United States, a SkyWest Airlines flight operating for American Airlines from Omaha to Los Angeles made an emergency return due to a communication failure between the cockpit and cabin crew.

Shortly after takeoff, the pilots heard knocking sounds on the cockpit door. Because the internal interphone system was malfunctioning, the cabin crew was unable to relay information verbally and resorted to knocking on the door to alert the pilots. The cockpit crew, interpreting the sounds as a potential hijacking or cockpit intrusion attempt, followed security protocols and decided to return to Omaha.

According to flight data, the aircraft turned back after flying about 40 miles and landed safely. The issue was later traced to a fault in the internal communication system, which had prevented the cabin crew from contacting the cockpit.

SkyWest Airlines issued a statement saying:

“The flight returned safely to Omaha due to a communication issue involving the cabin crew microphone. We apologize for the delay and appreciate our passengers’ understanding.”