Broadcast pirates risking lives

Pirate broadcasters are risking lives at a Yorkshire airport by posing as air crew and sending bogus messages to air traffic controllers.

A police investigation has begun at Leeds Bradford Airport to catch illegal broadcasters who using specialist equipment and specific airline call signs to disrupt planes landing or taking off.

Airport staff have reported two incidents to police since Christmas, sparking safety concerns.

The perpetrators are believed to have specialist knowledge of aircraft and airports.

Mark Winterbourne, chairman of Project Griffin, the airport’s anti-terrorism operation, said: “These people just think they are having a laugh but it is a very juvenile and immature act where the consequences could be so dire, you cannot imagine.”

He said that, although air traffic controllers were aware of all of the planes’ flight paths, the illegal broadcasts could cause danger by increasing the possibility of aircraft colliding.

The pirates have sent calls on the airport’s correct radio frequency, said Mr Winterbourne.

Andy Leat, of Leeds Bradford Airport police, said: “To be able to broadcast on an airport frequency, you need specialist equipment.

“Each airline has a call sign and they were using the correct call sign for an airline which uses Leeds Bradford Airport.”