Co-pilot of hijacked Ethiopian jet surrenders

[GENEVA] The co-pilot of a hijacked Ethiopian Airlines flight surrendered to Swiss authorities in Geneva yesterday after commandeering his aircraft to seek asylum in Switzerland, police said.

The plane's second-in-command, who was not carrying a weapon, took control of the plane when the pilot left the cockpit to use the toilet. After landing, he left the aircraft via a cockpit window, without harming passengers or crew, police spokesman Pierre Grangean said, "Just after landing, the co-pilot came out of the cockpit and ran to the police and said, 'I'm the hijacker.' He said he is not safe in his own country and wants asylum," Mr Grangean said.

Flight ET702 departed the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Sunday evening and was bound for Rome. The plane was hijacked at about 0330GMT while over northern Italy, Mr Grangean said. It landed at Geneva at 6.02 am (0502GMT).