Hijacked Turkish Plane Lands in Italy

Oct. 3, 2006
Plane believed to have been hijacked to protest Pope's visit

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - A Turkish Airlines plane carrying 107 passengers from Tirana, Albania to Istanbul, Turkey, was hijacked Tuesday and landed at Italy's Brindisi airport, a company spokesman said.

Private Turkish television station NTV, quoting unidentified security officials, said plane was hijacked to protest Pope Benedict XVI's planned visit to Turkey next month.

The plane was hijacked in Greek airspace, said airline spokesman Ali Genc.