Around 200 people were on board flight ET-702 when it was hijacked en route from Addis Ababa to Rome.
Swiss police have revealed they have arrested one hijacker and released a statement to say that all passengers and crew of the Boeing 767-300 are safe. No injuries were sustained and the situation is ‘under control’, said authorities.
The unscheduled landing took place at 6am local time, forcing the airport to temporarily close. Geneva International Airport since resumed departures by 8.15am and arrivals at 8.45am.
Flight 702 was hijacked in Sudanese air space, according to reports by Swiss newspaper Tribune de Geneve.
Ethiopian Airlines said in a statement that the "scheduled service departing from Addis Ababa 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," the carrier added.
An alleged recording of radio chatter between flight crew and air traffic controllers that has been published online – a request for asylum is audible.
UPDATE:
The hijacker was identified as co-pilot Hailemedehin Abera Tagegn. Unarmed, the 31-year-old Ethiopian national took control of the aircraft over Italian airspace while the pilot was using the restroom and used the radio to request asylum.