Pilot's first solo flight hijack gaffe flight brings F-16 escort

A pilot making his first solo flight was escorted by two F-16 military fighter jets after mistakenly signalling he'd been hijacked.

The pilot then landed the Cessna 172 safely at Steller Airpark in Chandler, Arizona.

Chandler police spokeswoman Emma Bribiescas said: "It appears that this was simply a human error."

Police say he used an emergency transponder that alerted air traffic controllers at Sky Harbour Airport.

They alerted the Air Force and the F-16s were scrambled.

The identity of the student hasn't been released.