A plane of EgyptAir company has been hijacked by unknown people has reportedly landed at the Cyprus airport of Larnaka, at least 80 people may be on board

13:04 Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades has said that the hijack of Egyptian А320 jet is not a terrorist attack, RIA Novosti reported.

“Everything is always related to a woman,” the president told reporters following the press conference with President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz who is in Cyprus.

All necessary measures are underway to release the hostages, Anastasiades added.

12:46 No explosives have been detected aboard the hijacked Egyptian A320 aircraft, Haaretz newspaper reported citing Cypriot sources.

12:38The hijacker of the Egyptian jet Ibrahim Samaha is a lecturer at a university in Atlanta, the US, Al Ahram portal reported citing the sources at intelligence services.

12:10 The hijacker of the Egyptian aircraft has asked for a political asylum in Cyprus, Greek Sky TV channel reported.

During the talks with the Cyprus authorities, the hijacker asked for a political asylum on the island, according to the TV channel.

“No other demands have been specified yet,” said the report.

11:50 The hijacker of the А320 aircraft has been named as Egyptian Ibrahim Samaha, RIA Novosti reported.



11:32 Egyptair says negotiated release of all aboard hijacked plane except five foreigners and the crew.

Passengers on the EgyptAir plane that was diverted to Cyprus included eight Britons and 10 Americans, three security sources at Alexandria airport said.

11:37 As a result of the talks with the hijacker, 50 passengers, except five foreigners and the crew, have been released from the Egyptian А320 aircraft which has landed at Larnaca airport, RIA Novosti reported.

They left the plane with hand luggage.

11:25 The hijacker of Egyptian A320 aircraft demands the withdrawal of police forces from Larnaca airport, Cyprus News Agency reported.

Reportedly, eight UK and 10 US citizens are aboard the plane.

11:21 Around 20 passengers have left the hijacked А-320 aircraft which has landed at Larnaca airport.

11:18 The hijacker of А-320 aircraft has let Egyptian citizens to leave the jet, RIA Novosti reported.

Moreover, the authorities of Cyprus are holding talks with the hijacker.

11:03 EgyptAir has confirmed the hijack of MS181 flight and will make an official statement soon, RIA Novosti reported.

The Foreign Ministry of Cyprus has also confirmed the hijack of А-320 aircraft.

“I can confirm that it was hijacked. We can’t officially provide further details,” the ministry’s spokesperson told Sputnik news agency.

10:58 An unidentified man, who hijacked the EgyptAir aircraft flying from Alexandria to Cairo, threatened the captain and the passengers that he would blow up the suicide belt, if his demand is not fulfilled, RIA Novosti reported citing Al Balad news portal.

Reportedly, the aircraft captain managed to inform the dispatchers in Cairo that the plane has been hijacked and will fly to Cyprus.



10:28 A-320 passenger aircraft, hijacked by unknown people, has landed at Larnaca airport in Cyprus, Reuters reported citing local media outlets.

The plane with 81 passengers aboard was travelling from Alexandria to Cairo.

10:23 A plane of EgyptAir company has been hijacked by unknown people, TASS news agency reported citing Bloomberg

At least 80 people may be on board, one man is thought to be armed. A male suicide bomber threatened to blow up the hijacked Egyptian plane, El Balyad reports. The police has no information on the bomb threat on board.

​According to media reports, a crisis center to negotiate with the hijackers has been set in Cyprus. The hijacker has allegedly allowed women and children to leave the plane. Cyprus Larnaca International Airport is closed; the flights are being redirected to the city of Paphos and the neighbouring countries.

​The sources said the plane was an Airbus 320.

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