Six passengers aboard an Italian cruise ship were arrested Thursday after allegedly using the vessel’s public address system to air false emergency messages, according to police.
The incident unfolded at about 6:30 a.m. on the MSC Divina, Italian news outlets La Repubblica and Napoli Today reported.
Authorities said the group of young adults gained access to the ship’s intercom system and broadcast fake distress announcements claiming the cruise ship was adrift while traveling from Marmaris, Turkey, to Naples, Italy, La Repubblica reported.
Alarmed passengers quickly alerted Italian authorities, who inspected the ship after it arrived at the port of Naples, according to the reports.
Investigators opened a probe following a complaint from the ship’s captain and eventually traced the unauthorized broadcast to the six passengers, the outlets reported.
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The travelers were then referred to authorities over allegations including unauthorized access to a computer system and causing public alarm, according to the reports.
“[A]n unauthorized announcement was broadcast on the ship’s PA system,” an MSC Cruises spokesperson told People, adding that the ship’s operations were never at risk.
The company said the false alarm was “immediately resolved and changes put in place to ensure it won’t happen again,” according to People.
