Ethiopian Airlines flight 702 on runway, Geneva Airport diverted from Rome after crew sent mayday 'hijacking' signal pic.twitter.com/5zQhM8LNft
— Harriet Hadfield ?? (@harriethadfield) February 17, 2014
It’s a relief to see Ethiopian Airlines Flight 702 ready to unload passengers who have been on a harrowing journey. Scheduled to land in Rome earlier this evening, the plane was reportedly hijacked and landed in Geneva after circling overhead. CNN (which finally woke up, it seems) now reports that all passengers and crew are safe and that the hijacker is allegedly in Swiss police custody.
#ET702 hijackers arrested said Swiss police to #CNN, all the passengers and crew are safe
— Aviation&Consulting (@AviationCons) February 17, 2014
Let’s hope the passengers all get out safely and get some rest soon–and that truth and justice in this case are served quickly.
Twitchy will continue, as always, to monitor and update.
Update: Reports coming in that officials have disclosed that the hijacker was one of the pilots, which is not a surprise to Twitter users who concluded the same from air traffic control chatter hours ago.
According to Swiss media, the PILOT was arrested. This pilot was seeking asylum, which has been corroborated by audio from the ATC tower.
— Chris (@4cchild) February 17, 2014
https://twitter.com/RyanKrautkreme1/status/435307449738743808
Wait so the hijacker of #ET702 was the pilot of the plane?
— Twitcapper (@horseracing4beg) February 17, 2014
@jlelo Officials are reporting that the pilot was the hijacker.
— Woman from Ware (@WareWoman) February 17, 2014
More passengers de-planing:
Passengers aboard hijacked #ET702 seen filing off plane with arms up in air, according to AFP reporter at the scene.
— Jenny Vaughan (@jennyvaughan) February 17, 2014
#ET702 passengers receiving psychological and mental care. Some have been searched and questioned as per GVA police- http://t.co/M4bIfWYjYg
— The Airchive (@TheAirchive) February 17, 2014
Of course:
A passenger in the Swiss lounge at GVA reading Twitter for updates. RT @huntmayo #ET702 I'm at GVA now, flights delayed, limited news here.
— Cynthia Drescher (@JetSetCD) February 17, 2014
Flights will reportedly resume soon at Geneva Airport.
#ET702 Flight operations have resumed at Geneva airport. pic.twitter.com/DNDYncF3QO
— ChinaAviationDaily (@CNAviationDaily) February 17, 2014
#ET702 pax are still disembarking. pic.twitter.com/IkZ4CM9meT
— Patrick Hofmann (@Phofmannsair) February 17, 2014
This post has been updated with additional tweets.
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Twitter users post unverified transcripts, audio of #ET702 control tower exchanges
#ET702 update: Geneva airspace ‘closed’, planes reportedly diverted; more updates
Reports of alleged hijacked plane: Ethiopian Airlines Flight 702
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