Turkish Airliner Hijacked...

[PhilDernerJr]

...over Greece. Fighters were scarmbled and intercepted the plane, and it landed in Italy I believe.

[moose135]

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld ... -headlines (http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/ats-ap_intl11oct03,0,1603147.story?coll=ny-leadworldnews-headlines)

Hijacked Turkish Plane Lands in Italy
October 3, 2006, 12:19 PM EDT

ANKARA, Turkey -- A Turkish Airlines plane carrying more than 100 passengers from Tirana, Albania, to Istanbul, was hijacked Tuesday and landed at Italy's Brindisi airport, company spokesman Ali Genc said.

The plane was hijacked in Greek airspace, Genc said.

Turkish television channel NTV, quoting unnamed security officials, reported that the plane was hijacked by two Turks to protest Pope Benedict XVI's planned visit to Turkey next month.

A spokesman for the Greek military's general staff told The Associated Press that four Greek fighter jets had been scrambled to shadow the plane after it issued a distress signal over Greek airspace.

The plane contacted Italian air traffic controllers about 5:25 p.m. and asked to land in Brindisi, according to Nicoletta Tomiselli, a spokeswoman for the Italian air traffic agency ENAV.

She said the aircraft, carrying 113 people, was escorted to the ground by two Italian military planes.

"We don't know what the situation is yet," she said.

Genc, the Turkish Airlines' spokesman, said there were 107 on board. There was no immediate explanation for the discrepancy.

[Midnight Mike]

Turks hijack airliner to protest pope’s visit


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15116710/

[Matt Molnar]

Reportedly they are unarmed. How, then, is this a hijacking?

Hijacker (knocking on cockpit door): Excuse me, Mister Pilot sir, I strongly object to Pope Benedict's recent statements about the Prophet Mohammed. As a protest against his visit to Turkey, I would like you to fly this plane to Italy, please.
Captain: Mmm, k.

[RDU-JFK]

Lots of possible scenarios--they could have claimed they had chemicals or explosives checked in their bag.

[hiss srq]

Tirana, wow home not so sweet home right there. Well sort of

[Midnight Mike]

I guess this dude failed Hijacking bootcamp, a Turkish National, hijacked the flagship of Turkey, to protest the Pope's visit.....

[PhilDernerJr]

I guess this dude failed Hijacking bootcamp, a Turkish National, hijacked the flagship of Turkey, to protest the Pope's visit.....

Diiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick. haha

[hiss srq]

Yea talk about stupid. Tirana does not have the best security though either a little money under the table at checkpoints works amazing wonders down there.

[Nonstop2AUH]

Scary that unarmed hijackers were able to take over a plane in the post-9/11 era. I am sure if this happened in the US they'd have been taken out by the marshal before anyone knew what they were (or weren't) armed with. Raises more questions about Turkish Air policy than about Albanian airport security in as much as they didn't have any banned items with them, probably just bought tickets and got onboard like anyone could.

[hiss srq]

whoa unarmed intresting. Either way there is alot of corruption in Albania so it would not suprise me what could be snuck onboard a bird from Albania. Either you will get shot on the spot out there or you have just made a new freind when it comes to getting away with stuff there. Now my question is Why the heck would they take over an airplane from their own nation!? can you say just a wee bit on the stupid side?

[Midnight Mike]

whoa unarmed intresting. Either way there is alot of corruption in Albania so it would not suprise me what could be snuck onboard a bird from Albania. Either you will get shot on the spot out there or you have just made a new freind when it comes to getting away with stuff there. Now my question is Why the heck would they take over an airplane from their own nation!? can you say just a wee bit on the stupid side?

Yeah, you think the hiacker would have taken over an Alitalia flight or something like that, you know the flagship airline form the Country you are protesting...... :wink: :roll:

[moose135]

Yeah, you think the hiacker would have taken over an Alitalia flight or something like that, you know the flagship airline form the Country you are protesting...... :wink: :roll:

The Vatican (an independent country located within Italy) doesn't have its own airline. Apparently they are protesting the fact that Turkey will be hosting a visit by the Pope, therefore, I image, that's the reason they hijacked a Turkish airliner.

[hiss srq]

Alitalia is also the state carrier of The Vatican. Unless they were in the states in which case that carrier was TWA. I think he once flew on a Mexicana 757 though as well.

[moose135]

Looks like it's over:


2 Turks Surrender After Hijacking Plane
By MAX FRIGIONE
Associated Press Writer

October 3, 2006, 2:26 PM EDT

BRINDISI, Italy -- Two Turks protesting Pope Benedict XVI's trip to Turkey next month hijacked a jet carrying 113 people from Albania to Istanbul on Tuesday, and it landed safely in this southern Italian coastal city, where they surrendered, officials said.

The two gave themselves up about two hours after the Turkish Airlines Boeing 737-400 landed, Italian news agencies reported.