ExXB, asylum rules usually mean you have to seek asylum the first time you're somewhere safe. If he wanted to specifically reside in Switzerland, then he has to come straight into Switzerland from the country he's fleeing.
Although, he might have had more chance of getting-out-of-Ethiopia success if he'd had a quiet word with the Italian immigration desk after his scheduled arrival. Then again, I guess he wasn't thinking at his straightest.
A rather better outcome than Egyptair managed at least.