An Egyptair domestic flight from Alexandria to Cairo was hijacked on Tuesday and landed in Cyprus, Egyptian officials said. The pilot of the plane was threatened by a passenger who claims to be strapped with explosives, Egypt’s Civil Aviation Ministry said.
The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation reported that 55 passengers were on board and a crew of seven. The hijacking occurred in Cyprus’s flight information region and the airliner was diverted to Larnaca.
The company has confirmed on their Twitter page that flight MS181 has been hijacked and landed in Larnaca, and are yet to publish an official statement.
Our flight MS181 is officially hijacked. we’ll publish an official statement now. #Egyptair
— EGYPTAIR (@EGYPTAIR) March 29, 2016
The plane was an Airbus 320, Egypt’s aviation ministry said.
Egyptian state media named the hijacker as Ibrahim Samaha, an Egyptian, but gave no other details about him.
Passengers on the plane included eight Britons and 10 Americans, three security sources at Alexandria airport said.
“The negotiations with the hijacker have resulted in the release of all the plane passengers with the exception of the crew and five foreigners,” the airline said in a statement.
Israel scrambled warplanes in its airspace as a precaution in response to the hijacking, according to an Israeli military source.
The ministry in a statement that pilot Omar al-Gammal had informed authorities that he was threatened by a passenger who possessed a suicide belt and forced him to land in Larnaca.
CYBC said the airplane was parked at an apron at Larnaca airport. The hijacker asked the police to back away from the aircraft, it said. Israel scrambled warplanes in its airspace as a precaution in response to the plane hijacking, according to an Israeli military source.
Larnaca is no stranger to hostage crises. Several hijacked planes were diverted to the airport in the 1970s and 1980s.
Here are the LIVE updates:
1:19 pm: Egyptian media identifies one hijacker of EgyptAir plane as Ibrahim Samaha.
1:05 pm: EgyptAir had earlier said in a previous statement that the number of foreigners remaining on the aircraft was five.
1:00 pm:
Negotiations with the kidnapped result in the release of all the passengers, except the crew and four foreigners. — EGYPTAIR (@EGYPTAIR) March 29, 2016 –
The hijacker is thought to be strapped with explosives, Cyprus broadcaster CYBC said on Tuesday. The airplane was parked on an apron at Larnaca airport. The hijacker asked the police to back away from the aircraft, the broadcaster said.
We are following reports that #MS181 has been hijacked. The aircraft has landed in Larnaca. https://t.co/ZAfjZmVBSJ pic.twitter.com/fNWiiaYZtQ
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) March 29, 2016
The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation reported that 55 people were on board, with a crew of 7. There were earlier reports of about 80 to 81 people on board.
Hijackers asked all police forces to leave the area in order to release women and children passengers…..
— Androulla Vassiliou (@VassiliouEU) March 29, 2016
12:49 pm: Except seven cabin crew and possibly four foreign nationals all passengers have been released.
12:40 pm: Egyptair statement: Negotiations underway with hijackers – Pilot says a man on board with “explosives belt”.
12:30 pm: Cypriot official says Egypt plane hijackers allow women, children to leave; some now disembarking.
12:25 pm: Cyprus Broadcasting reports one hijacker thought to be strapped with explosives, police have been asked to back away from aircraft.
12:23 pm: Pilot of hijacked EgyptAir plane was threatened by a passenger with suicide belt: Civil Aviation Ministry
This is a developing story. More info to follow
