Trial Conducted In Absentia After Pilot Sought Asylum In Switzerland

A pilot for Ethiopian airlines has been tried in absentia and found guilty of hijacking the airplane he was flying 13 months after the incident occurred.

The pilot, Hailemedhin Abera Tegegn, was scheduled to be sentenced in absentia on Friday. If he ever returns to Ethiopia, he could face up to 20 years in prison, according to a report from Reuters.

Hailemedhin was acting as First Officer aboard a flight from to Rome in February, 2014. He took command of the aircraft when the pilot left the cockpit to take a restroom break, according to Swiss police.

He sent a coded hijack signal on the aircraft's transponder and flew to Geneva. Once there, he climbed down a rope ladder from the cockpit window and surrendered to Swiss authorities. No one on the plane was injured. 

Police in Switzerland said Hailemedhin asked for asylum because he did not feel safe in Ethiopia, according to Reuters.

While officials in Ethiopia have said they may seek extradition of Hailemedhin, his current whereabouts are unknown.

FMI: www.ch.ch/en/applying-asylum/