mrmak2

ET70 / Live flight info - Flightradar24

Early report is that this airplane has been hijacked


http://www.airlinereporter.com/2014/...asons-unknown/

AZFlyer

Read on another board that the airplane is on the ground now. The source is claiming that there was a flameout and landed in Geneva with 20min fuel.

LNL76

It was the fo.

mrmak2

Condensed version from Reddit:

Background: Ethiopian Airlines Flight 702 originated in Addis Abbaba (HAAB) at 12:30am local time. The aircraft was originally destined for Rome Fiumicino Airport (LIRF). Sometime while flying over Italian airspace, the aircraft began squawking 7500, signalling that a hijacking is in progress. The aircraft, a Boeing 767, overflew its destination and flew towards France. Over northern Italy, the aircraft began descending and turned towards Geneva, Switzerland. Upon reaching Swiss airspace, the aircraft stated a request for asylum in Switzerland. ET702 began holding over the Geneva Airport, eventually descending to an altitude of 7,000ft. The pilots reported to ATC that they only had 35 minutes of fuel remaining and would not land until a response from Swiss officials was received. After circling for about 20 minutes, the pilots reported a fuel starvation warning on the flight deck. After 40 minutes of holding, ATC convinced the pilots to continue the approach, where ET702 made a safe landing on runway 05. After landing, the aircraft taxiied to the end of the runway and the pilots told ATC they would be leaving the plane via the cockpit windows.

04:40Z: ETH702 is currently on tower frequency 118.70. It is using the callsign KK001 (could be the escort's callsign). The aircraft has requested asylum. Tower has responded that they are working on the request but there is a delay "because everyone is asleep" (5am local time).
04:43Z: Request to hold over PAS approved. Still at 7,000MSL.
04:44Z: Aircraft is back on Geneva Approach.
04:45Z: 20 minutes of fuel remaining.
04:50Z: One engine has flamed out.
04:51Z: Geneva Appr: "I know you will not land without a response, but can I give you vectors for the ILS?"
04:53Z: ATC: "Turn right 230 for downwind."
04:54Z: ATC: "We are still working on a response."
04:54Z: ATC: "Turn right 320 for base."
04:54Z: E001: "We will not land with out a positive response."
04:56Z: ATC: "We have someone on the phone and will give you a response on short final. Descend to 4000, capture the glideslope."
04:58Z: ATC suggesting a 360 because he does not have a response yet. ETH702 wants to continue.
04:59Z: ATC: "Runway 05, cleared to land"
05:00Z: 001: "We will be stopping on the runway"
05:02Z: ATC: "Can you taxi to the end of the runway?"
05:02Z: ATC: "ET702 is on the ground."
05:03Z: 001: "I will be coming out via the window."
05:08Z: 10+ fire dept. vehicles and airport vehicles moving around the airport.
05:09Z: All quiet on frequency.
05:10Z: Pilots stated they would be leaving the cockpit via the windows. This incident reminds me of Air France 8969, where the pilots jumped out of the cockpit to escape the hijackers.
05:18Z: Geneva Tower to inquiring aircraft: "There is an incident going on, so for now, the Geneva Airport and aircspace is closed."
05:31Z: UAL148 inbound to Geneva from Newark has made an 180 turn over France. It appears to be diverting northwest in the general direction of Paris. It is now holding.
05:32Z: ATC: "We plan on opening the airport at 7am local. The aircraft is still blocking the runway."
05:36Z: Still no major new outlets picking up the news. Story is breaking completely on Twitter.
05:38Z: Etihad 053 from Abu Dhabi has been diverted to Milan Malpensa.
05:48Z: From what I know, this is an isolated incident. I have heard nothing substantial about multiple other hijackings. The other aircraft I mentioned above that are holding/diverting are doing so simply because the Geneva airspace is closed. I don't want to be the guy that starts some ridiculous rumors.
05:53Z: Ethiopian Airlines has released a statement. The website is down and I am not able to read it. Can't confirm anything until I've read the press release.
05:53Z: ATC: "Airport is still closed"
05:54Z: Ethiopian Airlines CONFRIMS a hijacking. ET702 was "forced to proceed" to Geneva Airport.
05:54Z: All passengers and crew are SAFE.
05:59Z: The press release has been taken off the website... It is back online.
06:01: ATC: "We have no further information on the situation. The airport is still closed and we are taking it hour by hour. The aircraft is still blocking the runway."
06:02Z: New estimated opening time is 0700Z, 0800 local.
06:07Z: CNN breaks the story on Twitter.
06:12Z: Passengers are still on board.
06:15Z: UAL148 has diverted to Milan, UAL974 has diverted to Zurich.
06:33Z: The flight reporting that they would be disembarking was NOT ET702, but rather British Airways 723. The plane was boarded and ready for departure but this incident has closed the airspace.
06:47Z: Two airport vehicles are traveling down the runway together. My best guess is checking the runway for debris.
06:53Z: One hijacker has been arrested, sources indicate situation is under control.
06:54Z: ATC: "Expect normal operatoins in a few minutes."
06:55Z: ATC has started to issue clearances again. ATC is asking pilots if they are ready to depart.
06:58Z: Police stated that the pilot has been arrested. Hijacked his own flight to declare asylum.
07:05Z: The airport is officially open again.
07:28Z: The first aircraft have departed since the airport has reopened. Operations are back to normal.

marcal

Why can't the ATC guys just have LIED and said he would get asylum?? Some sort of legality with that? Seems ridiculous to risk pax lives over lying to a hijacker about asylum.

mike734

Imagine how desperate you'd have to be to pull this stunt. I'm glad nobody was hurt but I wonder what sort of knee jerk reaction our politicians will come up with next. Still believe foreign pilots will fill in for our "pilot shortage?"

The Dominican

The shortage is worse abroad, they can't get enough pilots to fill their seats.

Another thing, how do you guys came to the conclusion that he is desperate? How about mentally unstable? Remember the JetBlue guy that had an episode during a flight and the F/O had to lock him out of the cockpit?

Dejavu

Cause american pilots are a god send haa haa !

Dam some US pilots get so cocky at times , yet so much happens stateside . but no thats ok

mike734

I make the assumption he is sane because the industry tends to self regulate. Of course there are notable exceptions but most crazy pilots get discovered and drummed out of the industry. Time will tell but I'm betting this guy has a plan.

The Dominican

Thanks for making my day, that is one of the funniest things that I've ever read in any of this sites

Priceless......!