An Ethiopian Airlines' plane diverted to Geneva Airport after sending a hijack radio code.


Flight watchers picked up the hijack radio code coming from the plane as it flew over Sudan, having left Addis Ababa en route for Rome.


Geneva police confirmed the plane had made an unscheduled landing in the Swiss city.


The co-pilot - who has been arrested - allegedly waited for the pilot to go to the toilet to lock himself in the cockpit. He was unarmed. He has requested asylum in Switzerland, reports the BBC.


Geneva airport was temporarily closed but has since re-opened.


The airline said in a statement all passengers and crew were now safe at Geneva airport and would be rebooked to their destination.


It said: "Ethiopian Airlines flight ET-702 on scheduled service departing from Addis Ababa on 17 February 2014 at 00:30 (local time) scheduled to arrive in Rome at 04:40 (local time) was forced to proceed to Geneva Airport. Accordingly, the flight has landed safely at Geneva Airport. All passengers and crew are safe at Geneva Airport.


"Ethiopian Airlines is making immediate arrangements to fly its esteemed customers on-board the flight to their intended destinations."