Anatomy of ET 702 hijack: Co-pilot diverts Rome flight, locks cockpit when pilot in toilet, lands in Geneva

Ethiopian born in 1983 asked to refuel at Geneva, landed , climbed down from cockpit window on rope, and gave himself up to police.

A hijacked Ethiopian plane that landed at Geneva airport early on Monday was diverted from Rome by the co-pilot, who sought asylum due to fear of persecution in Ethiopia, police spokesman Pierre Grangean told a news conference.

The unnamed co-pilot, an Ethiopian born in 1983, locked the cockpit door when the pilot went to the toilet. He then asked to refuel at Geneva, landed the plane, climbed down from the cockpit window on a rope, and gave himself up to police.

He was unarmed and there was no risk at any time to crew or passengers, Grangean said. The co-pilot is being questioned by police.

Bertrand Staempfli, the airport spokesman, told reporters: "He said he felt threatened in his country and wants to seek asylum in Switzerland."

Passengers left the plane parked near the end of the runway and were checked by police as they held their hands on their necks, before boarding a bus, a Reuters witness said.

Swiss authorities detained the hijacker of an Ethiopian Airlines flight that was forced to land at Geneva's international airport on Monday, airport police said, adding that passengers and crew were safe.

The situation was "under control", police said after flight ET 702 had been diverted from its original destination of Rome. The airline earlier said the flight from the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa had been "forced to proceed" to Geneva.

An Ethiopian government spokesman, Redwan Hussein, told Reuters the flight had made a scheduled stop in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, where he said the hijacker or hijackers might have boarded the flight.


"We don't know where they are from or how many they are but it looks like the hijacker or hijackers boarded the flight in Khartoum," Redwan told Reuters shortly before police announced they had detained the assailant.

In an apparent recording of a radio communication between the aircraft and air traffic control posted on the social media site Twitter, a demand for asylum can clearly be heard.

Reuters could not independently verify the authenticity of the recording and it was not immediately clear whether it was a hijacker or pilot speaking from the plane.

"We need asylum or assurance we will not be transferred to the Ethiopian government," the voice in the recording said.

A flight tracking app for mobile devices showed the flight circling over the Swiss city several times before landing.

Etihad Airways flight diverted to Milan; Geneva Airport re-opened

UPDATE: A message posted on Geneva Airport’s official website at 8.15am Swiss time (11.15am UAE) confirms the Swiss hub has already reopened.
The message reads: “Following a temporary closure of the airport, we inform you that departures have resumed and arrivals will resume at 08:45am [11.45 UAE time].”

Earlier:
A spokesperson from Etihad Airways confirmed flight EY053 has been diverted to Milan in wake of Geneva International Airport's temporary closure.

The statement reads: “Due to the temporary closure of Geneva airport, Etihad Airways flight EY 053 from Abu Dhabi to Geneva has diverted to Milan Malpensa airport. 

“The aircraft will continue to Geneva once the Swiss airport reopens. Check-in at Geneva airport is operating normally.”