EgyptAir plane hijacked, bomb suspected on board
An EgyptAir domestic flight travelling from Alexandria to Cairo was hijacked on Tuesday and landed in Cyprus, the state radio announced.
The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation reported that 55 people were on board, with a crew of seven. There were earlier reports of about 80 to 81 people being on board.
A Cypriot government official says the hijacked plane landed on Tuesday morning at the airport in Larnaka and that there are suspicions of a bomb on board.
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| The police has been asked to stay away from the aircraft. |
A second Cypriot official says there "seems like there's more than one hijacker." He says there have been no demands other than that police vehicles move away from the aircraft.
At least one man was thought to be strapped with explosives. Police has been asked to back away from aircraft. The hijacking occurred in Cyprus's flight information region and the airliner was diverted to Larnaca.
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Latest developments:
Negotiations with the kidnapped result in the release of all the passengers, except the crew and four foreigners.
— EGYPTAIR (@EGYPTAIR) March 29, 2016
EgyptAir says negotiated release of all aboard hijacked plane except five foreigners and the crew
— Reuters India (@ReutersIndia) March 29, 2016
Between 30 and 40 passengers of hijacked EgyptAir plane released in Larnaca - Cyprus state media
— Reuters India (@ReutersIndia) March 29, 2016
The airline confirmed the news on Twitter:
Our flight MS181 is officially hijacked. we'll publish an official statement now. #Egyptair
— EGYPTAIR (@EGYPTAIR) March 29, 2016
Cyprus Broadcasting reports one hijacker thought to be strapped with explosives, police have been asked to back away from aircraft
— Reuters India (@ReutersIndia) March 29, 2016
EgyptAir plane was hijacked by one person, about 60 people on board - civil aviation and police sources
— Reuters India (@ReutersIndia) March 29, 2016
80-81 people on board airliner, one man thought to be armed - Cyprus state radio
— Reuters India (@ReutersIndia) March 29, 2016
EgyptAir passenger plane en route from Alexandria to Cairo hijacked and heading to Cyprus - sources in civil aviation ministry, police
— Reuters India (@ReutersIndia) March 29, 2016