Secret hijack attempt on Aussie flight released

A chilling hijack attempt on an Australian passenger jet has been thwarted by a major counter-terrorism operation, with the suspect now in custody under a strict suppression order.  Officials say the alleged plot involved seizing control of a commercial aircraft and forcing it toward a hostile Middle Eastern nation.

The case, kept secret until recently, has sparked high-level meetings between Home Affairs and airport security leaders across Australia. Investigators are now probing whether extremist ideology or anti-Semitism played a role in the motive.

While Health Minister Mark Butler stressed there is no current threat to the public, the severity of the plan has reignited national concern. Former pilot David Oliver noted that breaching cockpit protocols is extremely difficult due to strict security barriers both on the ground and in flight.

The suspect allegedly intended for the aircraft to make multiple refueling stops, but experts say the plan was unrealistic. No nation would permit a hijacked jet to land and refuel, especially mid-crisis.