This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/5405460.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Hijacker faced arrest in Turkey Hijacker faced arrest in Turkey
(about 5 hours later)
A Turkish man who hijacked a flight from Albania and demanded that it be flown to Rome was facing arrest in Turkey for avoiding army service.A Turkish man who hijacked a flight from Albania and demanded that it be flown to Rome was facing arrest in Turkey for avoiding army service.
Hakan Ekinci was being flown from Albania to Turkey after his asylum application was turned down.Hakan Ekinci was being flown from Albania to Turkey after his asylum application was turned down.
The plane was forced by Italian fighter jets to land at Brindisi in southern Italy on Tuesday, where the unarmed hijacker surrendered.The plane was forced by Italian fighter jets to land at Brindisi in southern Italy on Tuesday, where the unarmed hijacker surrendered.
Mr Ekinci, a Christian convert said he wanted to give a message to the Pope.Mr Ekinci, a Christian convert said he wanted to give a message to the Pope.
The plane's passengers were flown on to Istanbul on Wednesday.The plane's passengers were flown on to Istanbul on Wednesday.
Most of the 107 passengers were Albanians, who had caught the Turkish Airways plane flying from Tirana, Albania to Istanbul on Tuesday.Most of the 107 passengers were Albanians, who had caught the Turkish Airways plane flying from Tirana, Albania to Istanbul on Tuesday.
Also on the passenger list were contestants in an international beauty pageant in Albania, including Miss India, Miss Singapore, Miss Malaysia and Miss Philippines.Also on the passenger list were contestants in an international beauty pageant in Albania, including Miss India, Miss Singapore, Miss Malaysia and Miss Philippines.
"The reason he insisted on landing in Rome or in Brindisi was to get a missive to the Pope," Italian Interior Minister Giuliano Amato said on Wednesday."The reason he insisted on landing in Rome or in Brindisi was to get a missive to the Pope," Italian Interior Minister Giuliano Amato said on Wednesday.
HAKAN EKINCI Turkish convert to ChristianityAbsconded from Turkish army, fled to AlbaniaWrote to Pope, seeking help in his bid for asylumAsylum refused by Albania, which sent him back to Turkey HAKAN EKINCI Turkish convert to ChristianityAbsconded from Turkish army, fled to AlbaniaWrote to Pope, seeking help in his bid for asylumAsylum refused by Albania, which sent him back to Turkey href="/1/hi/world/europe/5407040.stm" class="">Turkey's illegal refuseniks
The hijacker slipped into the cockpit after the door was opened by flight attendants, Mr Amato said.The hijacker slipped into the cockpit after the door was opened by flight attendants, Mr Amato said.
The man handed the pilot a note, saying he wanted to deliver a message to the Pope, and referring to accomplices with a bomb.The man handed the pilot a note, saying he wanted to deliver a message to the Pope, and referring to accomplices with a bomb.
Mr Amato said it turned out, however, that the man had no accomplices.Mr Amato said it turned out, however, that the man had no accomplices.
A search revealed he had no written message for the Pope either.A search revealed he had no written message for the Pope either.
"The peculiar thing about this hijack was that it was done by a lone, unarmed man," he said."The peculiar thing about this hijack was that it was done by a lone, unarmed man," he said.
The minister said the incident was worrying, ahead of the Pope's visit to Turkey at the end of November, a trip which he said would "present delicate security problems".The minister said the incident was worrying, ahead of the Pope's visit to Turkey at the end of November, a trip which he said would "present delicate security problems".
Internet campaignInternet campaign
The hijacker was named as Hakan Ekinci, 28, who had fled from the Turkish army and run away to Albania.The hijacker was named as Hakan Ekinci, 28, who had fled from the Turkish army and run away to Albania.
He reportedly said he was a convert to Christianity who could no longer be forced to serve in a Muslim army.He reportedly said he was a convert to Christianity who could no longer be forced to serve in a Muslim army.
He had apparently sought political asylum in Albania, and had written a letter to the Pope in the past pleading for his help in gaining asylum.He had apparently sought political asylum in Albania, and had written a letter to the Pope in the past pleading for his help in gaining asylum.
He charted his efforts to gain asylum in letters to a well-known Turkish pacifist group on the internet.He charted his efforts to gain asylum in letters to a well-known Turkish pacifist group on the internet.
The Turkish foreign ministry confirmed to the BBC that the hijacker was on the run from the army.The Turkish foreign ministry confirmed to the BBC that the hijacker was on the run from the army.
Separately, Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler said that Mr Ekinci had faced arrest and transfer to the military authorities on arrival in Istanbul.Separately, Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler said that Mr Ekinci had faced arrest and transfer to the military authorities on arrival in Istanbul.
It was initially reported that the plane had been hijacked by Turks protesting at Pope Benedict XVI's forthcoming trip to Turkey.It was initially reported that the plane had been hijacked by Turks protesting at Pope Benedict XVI's forthcoming trip to Turkey.
The trip has come under tight scrutiny, especially following comments the Pope made last month interpreted as linking the spread of the Islamic faith with violence.The trip has come under tight scrutiny, especially following comments the Pope made last month interpreted as linking the spread of the Islamic faith with violence.
However the Vatican said the hijacking was not expected to affect the Pope's plans.However the Vatican said the hijacking was not expected to affect the Pope's plans.