Google – AFP, 17 February 2014
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A F/A-18
Hornet fighter aircraft of the Swiss Air Force takes off on February 20,
2013
at Payerne airport (AFP/File, Fabrice Coffrini)
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Geneva — No
Swiss fighter jets were scrambled Monday when an Ethiopian Airlines co-pilot
hijacked his own plane and forced it to land in Geneva, because it happened
outside business hours, the Swiss airforce said.
When the
co-pilot on flight ET-702 from Addis Ababa to Rome locked himself in the
cockpit while the pilot went to the bathroom and announced a hijacking, Italian
and French fighter jets were scrambled to escort the plane through their
respective airspaces.
But
although the co-pilot-turned-hijacker quickly announced he wanted to land the
plane in Switzerland, where he later said he aimed to seek asylum,
Switzerland's fleet of F-18s and F-5 Tigers remained on the ground, Swiss
airforce spokesman Laurent Savary told AFP.
This, he
explained, was because the Swiss airforce is only available during office
hours. These are reported to be from 8am until noon, then 1:30 to 5pm.
"Switzerland
cannot intervene because its airbases are closed at night and on the
weekend," he said, adding: "It's a question of budget and
staffing."
Monday's
hijacking, carried out by 31-year-old Hailemedehin Abera Tagegn, according to
Addis Ababa, took place in the very early hours, with the aircraft and its 202
passengers and crew landing safely in Geneva at 6:02 am (0502 GMT).
That was
just two minutes after the airport opened for business, and two hours before
the Swiss airforce is operational.
Savary said
Switzerland relies heavily on deals with its neighbours, especially France, to
help police its airspace outside regular office hours.
He
explained that French fighters can escort a suspicious aircraft into Swiss
airspace, "but there is no question of shooting it down. It's a question
of national sovereignty".
Swiss
airspace is under constant electronic surveillance, he pointed out, adding that
the wealthy Alpine nation is also studying the possibility of expanding its
airforce coverage to a round-the-clock operation.
That plan
is however not set to kick into action until 2020, when Switzerland is expected
to replace its fleet of fighters with Swedish Gripen planes.
The
purchase of the Swedish planes meanwhile rely on whether it is approved in an
upcoming popular vote, with a poll published Monday showing 53 percent of Swiss
oppose the deal.
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Security
forces stand next to the hijacked Ethiopian Airlines plane
at Geneva airport in
Switzerland. Photograph: Salvatore Di Nolfi/EPA
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