An Ethiopian Airlines co-pilot has hijacked his own plane bound for Rome and flew it to Switzerland, where he sought for asylum, officials said today.
The Boeing 767-300 aircraft with 202 passengers and crew on board had taken off from the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, and landed in Geneva at about 6am local time with just 20 minutes of fuel remaining.
The plane circled around Geneva until the co-pilot heard a direct response about his requests for asylum, it has been reported.
The hijacking began over Italy, Switzerland’s southern neighbour, and two Italian fighter jets were scrambled to accompany the plane, Mr Deillon said.
The co-pilot himself alerted authorities to the plane’s hijacking, officials added – though passengers on the plane were unaware it had been hijacked. After landing in Geneva, the co-pilot exited the cockpit using a rope and turned himself in to authorities.
Police escorted passengers one by one, with their hands above their heads, from the taxied plane to waiting vehicles.
Geneva prosecutor Olivier Jornot said Swiss federal authorities were investigating the hijacking and would press charges which could carry a prison sentence of up to 20 years.
Geneva airport was initially closed to other flights, but operations resumed around two hours after the hijacked plane landed.
‘We hope everything will return to normal in the afternoon,’ Mr Deillon added.
The flight apparently began emitting a ‘hijacking code’ as it flew over Sudan.
Airlinereporter.com reported that this beacon, known as a ’7500′, cannot come from a glitch.
The website said that the co-pilot kept the plane in the air over Switzerland and France until his asylum request was mentioned.
Ethiopian Airlines is owned by Ethiopia’s government, which has faced persistent criticism over its rights record and alleged intolerance for political dissent.
Human Rights Watch says Ethiopia’s human rights record ‘has sharply deteriorated’ over the years.
The rights group says authorities severely restrict basic rights of freedom of expression, association, and assembly.
The government has been accused of targeting journalists, opposition members, as well as the country’s minority Muslim community.
Source: Sun
