There’s a very low probability of anything you read about this incident in the press being accurate at this early stage. We all know they have NFI when it comes to aviation (but it’s ok, everything else is reliable…)
How this for quality journalism:
“Referred to as Mike Sierra Foxtrot, the plane is heard replying "copy" as he is cleared for takeoff.
Later in the flight, air traffic controllers tell the pilot to "resume navigation and track direct to Cullen", referring to a small town in NSW.
"Direct, Cullen, Mike Sierra Foxtrot," the pilot is heard replying.”