Six individuals have been arrested in Italy for allegedly broadcasting false emergency announcements on a cruise ship, causing panic among passengers. The incident occurred aboard the MSC Divina as it sailed from Marmaris, Turkey, to Naples, Italy.
Reports indicate that around 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, the group accessed the ship's public address system. They broadcasted fabricated alerts stating the ship was floating adrift. The false alarm prompted alarmed passengers to report the situation to Italian authorities.
Upon the ship's arrival in Naples, officials investigated the incident. The captain filed a complaint, and authorities were able to trace the unauthorized transmissions back to the six suspects. They were subsequently apprehended by authorities for alleged unauthorized computer system access and causing an alarm.
A spokesperson for MSC Cruises confirmed that an "unauthorized announcement was broadcast on the ship's PA system." The company stated that the ship's operation was never jeopardized and that the situation was "immediately resolved with changes put in place to ensure it won't happen again."