A security alert was set off at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport after a hijacking warning on a plane was accidentally set off, a Spanish airline said.

The scare that sent emergency services rushing to the airport was a false alarm, Air Europa said in a tweet on Wednesday night.

It said says a warning that triggers hijack protocols at airports “was activated, by mistake”.

The carrier said all passengers “are safe and sound waiting to fly soon. We deeply apologise”.

Airport spokesman Dennis Muller said the situation was now safe and all flights were able to depart.

The military police service earlier said it was responding to a suspicious situation at the airport on the outskirts of Amsterdam.

It was not clear how the warning was triggered.

UPDATE: The potential hijacking at Amsterdam Schiphol was a false alarm. Air Europa has confirmed the pilot of #UX1094 to Madrid (Airbus A330 EC-LQP) mistakenly triggered a warning from the flight deck which indicates an on-board security situation. pic.twitter.com/4akqjFERG6

— Airport Webcams (@AirportWebcams) November 6, 2019

Dutch media reported that emergency services were deployed in big numbers at the airport.

An AP photographer near the main entrance said the situation appeared calm, with military police and civilian police officers visible inside the building, while passengers were arriving and departing as normal.

-AAP