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Ethiopian Airlines co-pilot highjacks plane in asylum bid
 

Almasalla Arab Travel Portal News - Swiss police have confirmed they have arrested the co-pilot of an Ethiopian Airlines plane flying from Addis Ababa to Rome.

It is believe the co-pilot attempted to highjack the Boeing 767-300, forcing it to make an emergency landing in Geneva.

He was unarmed and has requested asylum in Switzerland due to fear of persecution in Ethiopia.
 

The airline said in a statement that all 202 passengers and crew were safe.
 

Geneva airport, which was closed for a time, has now reopened.
 

Swiss police said, after locking himself in the cockpit, the co-pilot asked to refuel at Geneva, landed the plane, climbed down from the cockpit window using a rope and gave himself up to police.
 

Officers explained the situation inside the plane remained calm throughout.
 

The co-pilot himself alerted the authorities to the plane’s hijacking, with passengers unaware it had been hijacked.
 

The co-pilot could be charged with hostage-taking for which he could face up to 20 years of imprisonment, a Geneva prosecutor said at a news conference following the incident.