Turkish plane hijacked, lands in Italy

ROME (AP) — Turkish and Italian officials say a Turkish Airlines plane with more than 100 passengers on board is on the ground at Italy's Brindisi Airport, after it was hijacked while on a flight from Albania to Istanbul.

The airline says the plane was hijacked in Greek airspace. The crew then contacted Italian air traffic controllers and asked to land in Brindisi.

A spokeswoman for Italy's air traffic agency says the plane was escorted to the ground by two Italian military planes. She says, “We don't know what the situation is yet.”

A private Turkish TV station quoted unnamed security officials as saying the plane was hijacked by two Turks to protest Pope Benedict's planned visit to Turkey next month.