GENEVA, Feb 17 -- The hijacker of an Ethiopian Airlines flight bound for Rome but diverted to Geneva early Monday has been detained and the passengers and crew onboard are safe, according to Geneva airport police.

Police said the situation is "under control," though the airport has been temporarily closed.

The Boeing 767-300 flight from Addis Abba to Milan via Rome was forced to land at Geneva International Airport at 6:00 am (0500 GMT) Monday after reportedly being hijacked while flying over Sudan.