Ethiopian plane hijacked to Geneva by co-pilot

africatodayonline.blogspot.com -

• 
  

  After UAW defeat, can GOP fulfill promise of jobs?

  
  

  After UAW defeat, can GOP fulfill promise of jobs?

  
  
  Republicans fighting a yearslong unionization effort at the Volkswagen plant in Tennessee painted a grim picture in the days leading up to last week's vote.More >>
  
  
  Republicans fighting a yearslong unionization effort at the Volkswagen plant in Tennessee painted a grim picture in the days leading up to last week's vote. They said if Chattanooga employees joined the United Auto...More >>
  
  


• 
  

  Snake-handling Ky. pastor dies from snake bite

  
  

  Snake-handling Ky. pastor dies from snake bite

  
  
  Jamie Coots, a snake-handling Kentucky pastor who appeared on the National Geographic television reality show "Snake Salvation," died Saturday after being bitten by a snake.More >>
  
  
  A snake-handling pastor who appeared on the National Geographic television reality show "Snake Salvation" has died after being bitten by a snake during a weekend church service in Kentucky.More >>
  
  


• 
  

  Snake-handling Ky. pastor dies from snake bite

  
  

  Snake-handling Ky. pastor dies from snake bite

  
  
  A snake-handling pastor who appeared on the National Geographic television reality show "Snake Salvation" has died after being bitten by a snake at a weekend church service in Kentucky.More >>
  
  
  A snake-handling pastor who appeared on the National Geographic television reality show "Snake Salvation" has died after being bitten by a snake at a weekend church service in Kentucky.More >>
  
  


• 
  

  A western wrinkle on eminent domain

  
  

  A western wrinkle on eminent domain

  
  
  
  
  
  
  The view from the deck of the small, century-old cabin was a dream come true for Andy and Ceil Barrie -- a sweeping panorama of 13,000 and 14,000-foot peaks towering above the forest of centuries-old bristlecone...More >>
  
  
  The view from the deck of the small, century-old cabin was a dream come true for Andy and Ceil Barrie -- a sweeping panorama of 13,000 and 14,000-foot peaks towering above the forest of centuries-old bristlecone pines.More >>
  
  


• 
  

  New England hit with another winter blast

  
  

  New England hit with another winter blast

  
  
  
  
  
  
  The latest blast of snow to hit New England dumped more than a foot in some part of Massachusetts and packed heavy winds that left thousands without power Sunday on Cape Cod.More >>
  
  
  The latest blast of snow to hit New England dumped more than a foot in part of Massachusetts and packed heavy winds that left thousands without power Sunday on Cape Cod.More >>
  
  

• 
  

  Another messy morning in winter-weary Northeast

  
  

  Another messy morning in winter-weary Northeast

  
  
  
  
  
  
  Another messy, snowy morning in winter-weary Northeast; many in South still waiting for powerMore >>
  
  
  Another messy, snowy morning in winter-weary Northeast; many in South still waiting for powerMore >>
  
  


• 
  

  Health plans don't cover weight loss surgery

  
  

  Health plans don't cover weight loss surgery

  
  
  
  
  
  
  1 percent of eligible patients get weight loss surgery; majority of health plans don't coverMore >>
  
  
  1 percent of eligible patients get weight loss surgery; majority of health plans don't coverMore >>
  
  


• 
  

  Huge thermal plant opens as solar industry grows

  
  

  Huge thermal plant opens as solar industry grows

  
  
  
  
  
  
  World's largest thermal solar power plant rises in Mojave Desert, but it comes with a costMore >>
  
  
  World's largest thermal solar power plant rises in Mojave Desert, but it comes with a costMore >>
  
  


• 
  

  Christensen leads US sweep in slopestyle skiing

  
  

  Christensen leads US sweep in slopestyle skiing

  
  
  
  
  
  
  Clean sweep for Team USA as Joss Christensen leads US trifecta in men's slopestyle skiingMore >>
  
  
  Clean sweep for Team USA as Joss Christensen leads US trifecta in men's slopestyle skiingMore >>
  
  


• 
  

  Another ice storm causes havoc across the South

  
  

  Another ice storm causes havoc across the South

  
  
  
  
  
  
  Another ice storm across the South knocks out power to 445K; Atlanta learned its lessonMore >>
  
  
  Another ice storm across the South knocks out power to 445K; Atlanta learned its lessonMore >>
  
  

By JOHN HEILPRIN

Associated Press

GENEVA (AP) - An Ethiopian Airlines co-pilot hijacked a plane bound for Rome on Monday and flew it to Geneva where he wanted to seek asylum, officials said.

The Boeing 767-300 plane with 202 passengers and crew aboard had taken off from the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa and landed in the Swiss city at about 6 a.m. (0500 GMT). Officials said no one on the flight was injured.

Geneva airport chief executive Robert Deillon told reporters that the co-pilot, an Ethiopian man born in 1983, took control of the plane when the pilot ventured outside the cockpit.

"The pilot went to the toilet and he (the co-pilot) locked himself in the cockpit," Deillon said.

The man "wanted asylum in Switzerland," he said. "That's the motivation of the hijacking."

Geneva prosecutor Olivier Jornot said Swiss federal authorities were investigating the hijacking and would press charges that could carry a prison sentence of up to 20 years.

Frank Jordans in Berlin and Maamoun Youssef in Cairo contributed to this report.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.