Breaking: Turkish plane hijacked to protest Pope's visit to Turkey, lands in Italy

*click here for the newest twist: the two hijackers are probably Christian seeking asylum*

Hijacked Turkish Plane Lands in Italy

A Turkish Airlines plane carrying more than 100 passengers from Tirana, Albania, to Istanbul, was hijacked Tuesday and landed at Italy's Brindisi airport, company spokesman Ali Genc said.

The plane was hijacked in Greek airspace, Genc said.

Turkish television channel NTV, quoting unnamed security officials, reported that the plane was hijacked by two Turks to protest Pope Benedict XVI's planned visit to Turkey next month.

A spokesman for the Greek military's general staff told The Associated Press that four Greek fighter jets had been scrambled to shadow the plane after it issued a distress signal over Greek airspace. [more...]

Update:

All of the Turkish Airlines plane's 107 passengers are said to be unhurt.

Talks are under way with the two hijackers who appear to be protesting about a planned papal visit to Turkey.

... Both hijackers are said by Turkish media to be Turks.

... Salvatore Sciacchitano, deputy director of the Italian civil aviation authority, also said the hijackers appeared to be "not aggressive" and ready to free the passengers, AFP reports.

... A speech by Pope Benedict suggesting a link between Islam and violence sparked angry protests in Turkey and other mainly Muslim countries last month. [More...]

ANSA:

... ENAC sources said they insisted on giving a message to the pope but gave no details

... Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said the Vatican had been alerted and was waiting for details .

Turkish Press:

Benedict is already seen in Turkey as the anti-Turkish pope for opposing Ankara's drive to join the European Union as "a grave error... against the tide of history" when he was still Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.

And we still have 55 days left before the Pope's trip ... Geez, what's next?

I think that each new outrageous stunt by Muslim radicals will turn public opinion more in favor of Pope Benedict. Really, the media can stand a couple days of riots, but now this?!

More: [CNN] [MSNBC] [FOX News] [ANSA] [Turkish Press]

Update (2:22 EST): The two turks are in custody and the passengers are leaving the jet:

BRINDISI, Italy (CNN) -- Passengers from a hijacked Turkish plane carrying 113 people are leaving the aircraft after the two unarmed Turks who hijacked the plane, protesting the pope's upcoming visit to Turkey, agreed to release them.

Italy's transport minister announced the release on NTV, and the network reported that the passengers were disembarking from the plane.

Authorities have also said the two hijackers have indicated they were ready to surrender to authorities, but one of their demands was that a message be delivered to Pope Benedict XVI. [source.]

Update 3: click here for further updates.