Co-Pilot Hijacks Ethiopian Plane in Bid for Asylum in Switzerland

The co-pilot of an Ethiopian airliner hijacked a flight bound for Italy and landed in Switzerland on Monday, claiming to authorities that he sought asylum in the famously neutral country.

None of the 193 passengers on board were harmed, and the pilot gave himself up upon landing, according to a Reuters report

The flight originated from Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, and was headed for Rome when the co-pilot took over the flight. The lead pilot left the flight deck to use the bathroom, at which time the co-pilot locked him out, diverted the flight and notified air traffic controllers that he had hijacked the plane. Read more...