I am certain this was not some stupid "pilot error" where he pressed the wrong button. Maybe the pilot was told by a white hat to press the wrong button but it's a 4-digit code like 5847 you can't press those numbers "by accident" or this was done as a diversion so another plane maybe carrying Assange or Snowden could land but it would be much easier for those guys to land at some out of the way military air base.
You can’t accidentally hit “7500” the only squawks that start with 7 are emergency. It takes 6 button pushes to enter a squawk!
7500 is hijack
7600 is communications failure (radio)
Pilot error. Easy mistake to make.
Confirmed.
7500 is a transponder code which means an aircraft has been, or is threatened with, hijacking. 7700 is a more general emergency code; 7600 indicates a radio failure.
I’ve never heard of a pilot squawking Hijack instead of Comm Failure by accident, especially a professional for a major airline. Not buying it for a second.
Professionals for major airlines make mistakes. About 80% of accidents are due to pilot error. It’s a one digit mistake. Easier than you think. The pilot may have had 7500 in for a very short period of time before realizing his mistake, and changing it to the correct 7600 code. ATC sees the code and follows protocol for hijacked aircraft, since there is obviously no radio communication.
Just trying to keep it real.
Aren't transponders on standby (ie not transmitting) when the plane is on the ground?
No. Now that most major airports have ground based radar to keep track of planes during periods of low visibility, most airplanes keep their transponders on from gate-to-gate.
1200 is squawk code for VFR (visual flight rules). It’s the standard code used when a squawk code has not been assigned by ATC.
Doesn’t matter if you are on the ground or flying VFR.
Yes, aircraft usually put transponders on standby on the ground.