GENEVA, Feb. 17 -- The hijacker of an Ethiopian Airlines flight, who has surrendered to police, has been identified as the co-pilot, according to Geneva airport authorities.

Airport officials said Monday that the 31-year-old Ethiopian man locked himself in the cockpit after taking control of the Boeing 767-300, and he wants to seek asylum in Switzerland.

Earlier in the day, Jean-Philippe Bramdt, Geneva Cantonal police spokesperson, told Xinhua that investigations are still underway and further details would be released soon.

Flight ET-702 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.

Police arrived at the airport and controlled the situation on the ground. Bramdt said that the passengers and crew were safe and police were evacuating them one by one.

It is reported that the plane carried more than 200 people, but the number was not confirmed by the spokesperson.

Geneva airport is currently closed with multiple flights canceled.