Turkish plane hijacking was 'to protest Pope's visit'

A Turkish Airlines plane carrying more than 100 passengers from Tirana, Albania, to Istanbul, was hijacked today 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 against Pope Benedict XVI’s planned visit to Turkey next month.

A spokesman for the Greek military’s general staff said 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 5.25pm 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.