When the Pilot Became the Hijacker: The Unusual Case of Flight ET702
The aviation industry has experienced over 1,066 hijackings since 1931, with many of them having severe impacts on passengers’ lives. However, one incident stands out as particularly extraordinary: the hijacking of an entire aircraft by the pilot itself.
In February 2017, Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET702, a Boeing 767, was a scheduled flight from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) to Milan Malpensa (MXP), with a stopover at Rome-Fiumicino International Airport (FCO).
The Boeing 767 had 193 passengers on board, including 139 Italians, 11 Americans, and four French individuals. It departed from Addis Ababa at 00:30 local time and arrived in Rome at 04:40 local time. However, as the aircraft flew over Sudan, Egypt, and the Mediterranean Sea, what began as a routine flight turned into one of the aviation industry’s most unique cases.
Over the Mediterranean Sea, the captain of the Boeing 767 exited the cockpit, leaving the co-pilot in control of the aircraft. However, the co-pilot quickly locked himself in the cockpit, leaving the captain helpless to regain control of the situation. The cockpit door was made of reinforced materials and equipped with locking mechanisms that could only be opened from the inside, a critical security feature implemented after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to prevent unauthorized access to the cockpit.
As the Boeing 767 headed towards Rome, the transponder code suddenly changed to 7500, which is an emergency code used to indicate that the aircraft has been hijacked or is in distress. The code is internationally recognized as the hijack code and is entered into the aircraft’s transponder by the pilot.
When the hijack code is entered, it sends a signal to air traffic control and other aircraft in the vicinity, indicating that the aircraft is in trouble and requires assistance. This allows air traffic control to swiftly coordinate with the appropriate authorities to ensure the safety of the aircraft and its passengers. The use of the hijack code is a critical component of aviation safety and security protocols, enabling rapid response and effective management of emergency situations.
The scheduled arrival time for the Boeing 767 was 04:40 local time in Rome, Italy. However, the aircraft continued past the capital and eventually landed in Geneva, Switzerland. The co-pilot, who was also the hijacker, negotiated political asylum with air traffic control at Geneva International Airport, seeking protection from extradition to Ethiopia.
As the aircraft transversed the airspaces of France and Italy, it was accompanied by Italian Eurofighter and French Mirage fighter jets. However, when the aircraft entered Swiss airspace, the Swiss Air Force was unable to respond, as it was outside normal working hours for the airbases. The situation was a testament to the complexities of coordinating responses across international borders and the importance of effective communication and collaboration between different air traffic control centers and national authorities.
At 06:02 local time, ET702 landed at Geneva International Airport with just 10 minutes of fuel remaining and a flamed-out engine. After landing, the aircraft taxied to the apron where the co-pilot, Hailemedhin Abera Tegegn, exited the aircraft using a rope and surrendered to the police.
Hailemedhin was 31 years old and was identified as the hijacker of the flight. He was convicted in absentia by the Ethiopian High Court and sentenced to 19 years and six months in jail. Prior to the conviction, he was declared to be in a state of complete paranoia during the hijacking and was deemed incapable of thinking rationally. The incident served as a reminder of the importance of mental health awareness and the need for effective support systems to prevent incidents like hijackings from occurring.
Towards the end of the hijacking, after an hour of questioning by the police for possible accomplices, the passengers and the rest of the crew were allowed to leave the aircraft. They were later accommodated to continue their journey as intended.
Unlike many hijackings in the past, this incident ended peacefully. However, it also highlighted the limitations of Switzerland’s air defenses. Following the incident, Swiss authorities took steps to improve their air defenses. From January 4, 2016, a pair of Swiss F/A-18 Hornets were kept at 15 minutes QRA readiness between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM on weekdays. Later, they were kept on standby for 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to respond quickly to any potential threats to the nation’s airspace. The incident served as a wake-up call for countries worldwide to review and improve their aviation security measures.
Hijacking an entire aircraft and putting the lives of countless passengers at risk is a serious and dangerous act that requires careful consideration of motives and intentions. In the case of ET702, the co-pilot, Hailemedhin Abera Tegegn, as stated by the authorities during a press conference in Geneva that he was afraid of staying in Ethiopia and sought asylum in Switzerland because he felt unsafe back home.
Despite the gravity of the situation, the hijacking ultimately had a peaceful outcome. All 193 passengers were reunited with their families, and the incident highlighted the need to bolster Switzerland’s air defenses.
