Two men who hijacked a Turkish airliner flying from Tirana to Istanbul have surrendered after the plane landed at Brindisi in southern Italy.
Two men who hijacked a Turkish airliner flying from Tirana to Istanbul have surrendered after the Boeing 737 landed at Brindisi in southern Italy.
The motive for their action is unclear with conflicting reports of either a protest against the Pope or an attempt to seek asylum in Italy.
The motive for their action is unclear, with conflicting reports of either a protest against the Pope or an attempt to seek asylum in Italy.
Fighter planes were scrambled as the airliner crossed Greek airspace.
Reports say Italian fighter planes forced the airliner to land.
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 beauty contest entrants - are said to be unhurt.
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
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 hijackers were reported to have been protesting against the Pope's planned visit to Turkey in November.
The hijackers were reported to have been protesting against the Pope's planned visit to Turkey in November.
However, confirming the surrender, Brindisi Police Chief Salvatore De Paolis told Reuters that the two men wanted political asylum.
However, confirming the surrender, Brindisi Police Chief Salvatore De Paolis told Reuters news agency that the two men wanted political asylum.
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 had been scrambled to escort it.
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.
'Christian convert'
'Christian convert'
Both hijackers are said by Turkish media to be Turks.
Both hijackers are said by Turkish media to be Turks.
Candan Karlitekin, chairman of Turkish Airlines' board of directors, earlier said nobody had been hurt and the hijackers were apparently not threatening passengers.
Candan Karlitekin, chairman of Turkish Airlines' board of directors, said no-one had been hurt and the hijackers had apparently not threatened passengers.
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."
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 XVI, in which he quoted a 14th-Century Byzantine emperor who had suggested a link between Islam and violence, sparked angry protests in Turkey and other mainly Muslim countries last month.
However, Turkish television later said one of the hijackers had converted to Christianity and was a conscientious objector, Reuters reports.
But Turkish television later said one of the hijackers had converted to Christianity and was a conscientious objector, Reuters reports.
It said he had sent a letter to the Pope in late August, asking for his help to avoid compulsory military service in Turkey.
It said he had sent a letter to the Pope in late August, asking for his help to avoid compulsory military service in Turkey.
It quoted the letter as reading: "I am a Christian and I do not want to serve in a Muslim army."
It quoted the letter as reading: "I am a Christian and I do not want to serve in a Muslim army."
The Vatican says it has been keep informed of developments by the authorities. They insist that despite concerns over the Pope's safety for his forthcoming trip, they are still planning to go ahead.
'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.
Ergun Ozkeseoglu, a passenger who phoned told Turkish NTV television from the plane, said one of the hijackers had waved and apologised to applauding passengers as he left the plane.
Miss India is among four beauty queens on the planeMiss India, Miss Singapore, Miss Malaysia and Miss Philippines were on the flight, the spokesman told the BBC's Asian Network.
Miss India is among four beauty queens on the plane
One Albanian passenger described bewilderment in a phone call to Albanian TV.
He had seen no weapons but had noticed a passenger repeatedly entering the cockpit and "and giving orders to the stewards".
"We don't know where we are," the passenger said. "No-one is saying anything."
One Albanian passenger told Albanian TV that nobody had been informed of the hijacking.
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 who was also aboard, described one of the suspected hijackers for his television channel, Albania's 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 were subsequently were shown the emergency exits, he said.
Contestants in an international beauty pageant, Globe International 2006, were among the passengers, according to the Albanian event's press spokesman.
Miss India, Miss Singapore, Miss Malaysia and Miss Philippines were on the flight, the spokesman told the BBC's Asian Network.
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.
