A Turkish airliner flying from Tirana to Istanbul has been hijacked and flown to Brindisi in southern Italy in an apparent protest against the Pope.
A Turkish airliner flying from Tirana to Istanbul has been hijacked and flown to Brindisi in southern Italy in an apparent protest against the Pope.
It sent out an SOS twice in Greek airspace, and both Greece and Italy scrambled fighter jets to escort it before it landed in Brindisi.
It sent out an SOS twice in Greek airspace, and both Greece and Italy scrambled fighter jets to escort it before it landed in Brindisi.
All the Turkish Airlines plane's 107 passengers - including world beauty contestants - are said to be unhurt.
All the Turkish Airlines plane's 107 passengers - including world beauty contestants - are said to be unhurt.
Talks are under way with the two reportedly unarmed hijackers.
Talks are under way with the two reportedly unarmed hijackers.
We gathered something was amiss when we saw a man wearing track-suit bottoms and a hat go to the cockpit door and pause there, thinking Ermir HoxhaPassenger, speaking by mobile phone from plane
A Greek defence official who spoke to Reuters said the plane had entered Greek air space at 1758 (1458 GMT) and four Greek fighters took off to escort it.
A Greek defence official who spoke to Reuters said the plane had entered Greek air space at 1758 (1458 GMT) and four Greek fighters took off to escort it.
We saw a man wearing track-suit bottoms and a hat go to the cockpit door and pause there, thinking Ermir HoxhaPassenger, speaking by mobile phone from plane
The Italian air force in turn sent up two F-16s to intercept the plane and reportedly forced it to land.
The Italian air force in turn sent up two F-16s to intercept the plane and reportedly forced it to land.
Both hijackers are said by Turkish media to be Turks.
Both hijackers are said by Turkish media to be Turks.
Lights have been put out on the tarmac at Brindisi and a fire engine carrying Brindisi's chief of security is standing near the plane.
Lights have been put out on the tarmac at Brindisi and a fire engine carrying Brindisi's chief of security is standing near the plane.
'Not aggressive'
'Not aggressive'
Candan Karlitekin, chairman of Turkish Airlines' board of directors, said nobody had been hurt and the hijackers were apparently not threatening passengers.
Candan Karlitekin, chairman of Turkish Airlines' board of directors, said nobody had been hurt and the hijackers were apparently not threatening passengers.
"The passengers are not under any threat," he said.
"The passengers are not under any threat," he said.
"They will surrender, they declared that they will surrender the moment they hijacked the plane."
"They will surrender, they declared that they will surrender the moment they hijacked the plane."
Asked if the hijacking was a protest against the papal visit, Mr Karliteken told Turkish TV channel NTV: "The cockpit was told that it was a protest of this nature."
Asked if the hijacking was a protest against the papal visit, Mr Karliteken told Turkish TV channel NTV: "The cockpit was told that it was a protest of this nature."
Salvatore Sciacchitano, deputy director of the Italian civil aviation authority, also said the hijackers appeared to be "not aggressive" and ready to free the passengers, AFP reports.
Salvatore Sciacchitano, deputy director of the Italian civil aviation authority, also said the hijackers appeared to be "not aggressive" and ready to free the passengers, AFP reports.
'Track-suit man'
'Track-suit man'
Contestants in an Albanian international beauty contest, Globe International 2006, are among the passengers, according to the event's press spokesman.
Contestants in an Albanian international beauty contest, Globe International 2006, are among the passengers, according to the event's press spokesman.
Miss India is among four beauty queens on the plane
Miss India, Miss Singapore, Miss Malaysia and Miss Philippines are on the flight, the spokesman told the BBC's Asian Network.
Miss India, Miss Singapore, Miss Malaysia and Miss Philippines are on the flight, the spokesman told the BBC's Asian Network.
Passengers on the plane were unaware there was a hijack attempt.
Passengers on the plane were unaware there was a hijack attempt.
One Albanian described bewilderment in a phone call to Albanian TV.
One Albanian described bewilderment in a phone call to Albanian TV.
"We don't know where we are," the passenger said. "No-one is saying anything."
"We don't know where we are," the passenger said. "No-one is saying anything."
Ermir Hoxha, a journalist on board, described one of the suspected hijackers for his television channel, Top-Channel TV. He said he had not seen any weapon.
Ermir Hoxha, a journalist on board, described one of the suspected hijackers for his television channel, Top-Channel TV. He said he had not seen any weapon.
"We gathered something was amiss when we saw a man wearing track-suit bottoms and a hat go to the cockpit door and pause there, thinking," he said.
"We gathered something was amiss when we saw a man wearing track-suit bottoms and a hat go to the cockpit door and pause there, thinking," he said.
However, passengers were served food and drinks in mid-journey and subsequently were shown the emergency exits, he said.
However, passengers were served food and drinks in mid-journey and subsequently were shown the emergency exits, he said.
A speech by Pope Benedict suggesting a link between Islam and violence sparked angry protests in Turkey and other mainly Muslim countries last month.
A speech by Pope Benedict suggesting a link between Islam and violence sparked angry protests in Turkey and other mainly Muslim countries last month.
Are you or anyone you know affected by this story? Are you in Brindisi? Send us your comments and eyewitness accounts using the form below. If you have any pictures you can send them yourpics@bbc.co.uk.
Are you or anyone you know affected by this story? Are you in Brindisi? Send us your comments and eyewitness accounts using the form below. If you have any pictures you can send them yourpics@bbc.co.uk.
