Two Turks trying to deliver a message to Pope Benedict XVI protesting at his planned trip to Turkey hijacked an airliner carrying 113 people from Albania to Istanbul on Tuesday, officials said. The two gave themselves up to police about two hours after the Turkish Airlines Boeing 737-400 landed, Italian news agencies reported. An Italian civil aviation official said the passengers were also leaving the plane.
The plane, which was hijacked in Greek airspace after taking off from Albania, landed at Italy's Brindisi airport. Passenger Ergun Ozkeseoglu told Turkish NTV television by telephone from the plane that one of the hijackers waved and apologized to applauding passengers as he left the plane.
| “They told the pilots that they wanted to carry out an act to protest the pope and that they wanted the plane diverted to Rome and that they (the pilots) should not resist...” |
Ozkeseoglu said he suspected something was wrong when he saw a passenger enter the cockpit. "He was constantly opening the (cockpit's) door and giving orders to the stewards," he said. "I didn't see any weapons or anything like that."
Istanbul Deputy Gov. Vedat Muftuoglu said the hijackers stormed into the cockpit about 15-20 minutes after take off from Tirana and asked the pilots to fly to Rome, but Italian warplanes forced it to land in Brindisi. "They told the pilots that they wanted to carry out an act to protest the pope and that they wanted the plane diverted to Rome and that they (the pilots) should not resist," Muftuoglu told Turkey's CNN-Turk television.
The captain told the hijackers that the aircraft did not have sufficient fuel and the plane was diverted to Brindisi. "They seem to be not particularly hostile nor do they appear to be armed," said Salvatore Sciacchitano, deputy director of the ENAC civil aviation agency.
Turkish authorities identified one of the hijackers as Hakan Ekinci. The other's first name was Mahmut, but his family name was not known. Sadri Abazi, an Albanian lawmaker aboard the hijacked plane told Albania's private News24 TV earlier that all passengers were safe and "there is no threat."
Candan Karlitekin, chairman of Turkish Airlines' board of director confirmed Turkish news reports that the aircraft was hijacked by two Turks in protest at Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Turkey next month.
| “Sciacchitano said the hijackers wanted to make a statement to the pope.” |
Sciacchitano said the hijackers wanted to make a statement to the pope. "The hijackers appear to be two. The police are talking to them, representatives of the Interior Ministry and our director of the airport is in contact with them (the hijackers), Sciacchitano said, adding that the plane was carrying 107 passengers and six crew.
The two Turks told authorities they were prepared to turn themselves in, Karlitekin said. "The passengers are not under any threat. They will surrender, they declared that they will surrender the moment they hijacked the plane," Karlitekin said, adding that no one was hurt.
| “The Vatican said Tuesday it has been going ahead with plans for the trip and a Vatican official, asked about the hijacking, said he expected no changes in the pope's plans for the visit.” |
Benedict angered the Muslim world in a speech in Germany on Sept. 12, when he quoted a 14th century Byzantine emperor as saying: "Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."
Benedict has expressed regret for offending Muslims by his remarks and said they did not reflect his personal views, but he has not offered a complete apology as some had sought. The Vatican said Tuesday it has been going ahead with plans for the trip and a Vatican official, asked about the hijacking, said he expected no changes in the pope's plans for the visit. The official, who asked that his name not be used because of the sensitivity of the issue, said an official Vatican announcement that the trip would take place Nov. 28-Dec. 1 would be made soon. |