Spanish carrier Air Europa has admitted that a hijack alert which triggered a military police response at Amsterdam Schiphol aiprort was issued inadvertently.
Dutch military police had stated that they were investigating a "suspicious" situation on board an aircraft at Schiphol airport, but had not detailed the nature of the 6 November incident.
The police, from the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, subsequently informed that passengers and crew were "safe".
Although the police had not identified the flight involved, Air Europa has clarified that a warning which triggers procedures for responding to a hijack was "activated by mistake".
"Nothing has happened, all passengers are safe and sound," says the carrier, adding that the situation was a "false alarm".
Air Europa flight UX1094 to Madrid, operated by an Airbus A330-200, had been due to depart at 19:10 from gate D59.
The airline has not indicated how the alert was transmitted, although cockpit crews can signal a hijacking by setting the aircraft's transponder squawk code to 7500.
Schiphol airport's management company says that its pier D was "temporarily closed" as a result of the investigation by the Marechaussee, but states that regular operations have resumed.
Operating under the Dutch defence ministry, the Marechaussee's duties include military policing roles, with such activities as security work at civil airports, combating illegal immigration, and national border protection.
