ISTANBUL - "20 minutes after take-off, two Turkish hijackers entered the pilot's cabin and demanded that the airplane change its course to Rome instead of Istanbul," said Vedat Muftuoglu, deputy Governor of Istanbul, today.
"The hijackers wanted to send a message to Pope Benedict XVI and protest the pope's upcoming visit to Turkey," noted Muftuoglu.
Meanwhile, the hijackers surrendered to Italian authorities.
Muftuoglu indicated that as soon as legal procedures are completed in Italy, the Turkish Airlines (THY) jet will fly to Istanbul.