Athens, Greece – A Turkish commercial airliner has been hijacked in Greek airspace.
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The plane had taken off from Tirana, Albania, and was destined for Istanbul. The plane has landed in the Italian city of Brindisi, a Turkish Airlines spokesman said.
U/D: 14:34
Brindisi, Italy – The two hijackers of a Turkish aircraft have surrendered to Italian police.
2 changes to this story:
only 1 hijacker
reason not a protest, but a request for political asylum
BRINDISI, Italy, Oct 3 (Reuters) – A Turkish airliner diverted to Italy while flying from Albania to Istanbul on Tuesday may have been hijacked by one man instead of two, as previously thought, officials said.
The presence of a second hijacker has not yet been confirmed, according to authorities in southern Italy where the plane was forced to land.
All the passengers have left the plane and one hijacker was being questioned by police, aviation authorities said. They added that police were still checking to see if there was an accomplice, possibly among the passengers.
One of the passengers, Sadri Abazi, also told Reuters he had only seen one hijacker but had been told by a flight attendant two hijackers were on board.
Turkish media identified one hijacker as a Christian convert who wanted to contact the Pope to seek his help to avoid military service in predominantly Muslim Turkey.
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Turkish television channel NTV, quoting unnamed security officials, reported that the plane was hijacked by two Turks to protest Pope Benedict XVI’s planned visit to Turkey next month.
ATHENS, Oct 3 (Reuters) – A Turkish passenger plane flying from the Albanian capital Tirana to Istanbul was hijacked over Greece and later landed in Italy, Greek and Italian officials said on Tuesday.
“The plane sent the (coded hijack) signal twice while in Greek air space. Four Greek fighter jets took off and accompanied the plane as it left Greek air space towards the Italian city of Brindisi,” a Greek defence ministry official told Reuters.
The official said the plane, carrying 107 passengers and a crew of six, entered Greek air space at 17:58 local (14:58 GMT) and was soon escorted out by the Greek fighter jets.
“It is now circling Brindisi,” the official said. The Italian air force later said it had intercepted the Turkish flight which then landed at Brindisi airport in Italy.
Turkey’s NTV said two Turks had hijacked the plane and were said to be ready to surrender. Turkish television also quoted police sources as saying the plane was hijacked in protest at Pope Benedict’s pending visit to Turkey.
Is this part of a bigger plot or is it limited to this one plane?
Aircraft has landed in Italy. It was hijacked by 2 Turks in Greek Airspace.
Duvd’l
they are upset that the pope is visiting turkey
Any Update What Their Demands Are ?