Terror bombshell: Maniac planned to HIJACK a plane in Australia – as investigators make bombshell confession

The Albanese government has confirmed a major counter-terrorism operation stopped an alleged plot to hijack an Australian passenger jet and force it to a hostile nation in the Middle East. 

The plan was foiled before it could be carried out. 

The AFP and Counter-Terrorism Taskforce are leading the investigation after a suspect was arrested earlier this year and charged.

That person remains before the courts, but a suppression order prevents their identity from being made public, The Australian reports.

In response, the Department of Home Affairs has met with airport owners and operators across the country to strengthen aviation security.

Investigators are also examining whether anti-Semitic and pro-Middle Eastern extremist ideology may have motivated the alleged hijacking attempt.

Albanese government Health Minister Mark Butler confirmed the plot on Sunrise.

‘Obviously any report of a potential hijacking sends shivers down the spine of every Australian. Particularly Australians who fly.

‘I want to be cautious about this. This alleged hijacker is in custody. There’s no threat to the Australian community.

‘But there’s a suppression order on this for good reason. Investigations are still underway by our intelligence and security agencies.

‘So we don’t want to speculate about other aspects of this issue. We want to let our agencies do their work and that will all come out in due course and be prosecuted in the normal way.’

Former pilot David Oliver told Sunrise the plot would have been extremely difficult to carry out.  

‘Firstly there’s a security protocols on the ground which are fairly strict, both for airport workers an nonairport workers who have to access certain facilities,’ he said.

‘And on the aircraft, there is strict protocols for flight access which both the cabin crew and flight crew are privy too that passengers would not know – it would be difficult to get into the flight deck.’

It’s understood the plan required multiple refuelling stops en route to the Middle East.

Mr Oliver was asked if a domestic plane could have been the target due to the refuelling.

‘Not necessarily. It could have been an international aircraft there are aircraft that fly internationally that don’t have the range to make it direct to the Middle East. 

‘But a refuelling stop adds a lot of complications to any potential threat because there’s no country that I have flown into that would let a hijacked plane refuel and keep going.

‘I think the hijacker hadn’t thought his plan through.’