Swiss police say hijack co-pilot is claiming asylum
- 10 years ago
Swiss police say an Ethiopian Airlines co-pilot who hijacked the plane he was flying, did so in order to claim asylum in Switzerland,
The co-pilot took control of the plane, flying from Adis Ababa to Rome, locking the cockpit door while the pilot was in the toilet.
Once on the tarmac he surrendered to Swiss authorities.
A Geneva police spokesperson said that the co-pilot was born in 1983 and was Ethiopian.
Eric Grandjean said, this act was motivated by the fact that he feels threatened in his country and wants to claim asylum in Switzerland.”
The hijacker was unarmed and everyone got off the flight safely.
Rights campaigners accuse the Ethiopian government of stifling dissent and torturing political detainees.
The co-pilot took control of the plane, flying from Adis Ababa to Rome, locking the cockpit door while the pilot was in the toilet.
Once on the tarmac he surrendered to Swiss authorities.
A Geneva police spokesperson said that the co-pilot was born in 1983 and was Ethiopian.
Eric Grandjean said, this act was motivated by the fact that he feels threatened in his country and wants to claim asylum in Switzerland.”
The hijacker was unarmed and everyone got off the flight safely.
Rights campaigners accuse the Ethiopian government of stifling dissent and torturing political detainees.