Hijacked EgyptAir Flight Lands In Cyprus, Some Passengers Allowed to Leave

A local flight in Egypt was on Tuesday morning hijacked by yet to be identified men believed to be armed with explosives.

BBC reports that the EgyptAir plane was hijacked and forced to divert to Larnaca airport on the south coast of Cyprus.

The airline, EgyptAir confirmed that its plane was hijacked, with a message on its official
page on social media site, Twitter:


The EgyptAir Flight MS181, an Airbus A320 was said to be conveying 81 passengers from Alexandria to Egypt’s capital, Cairo when it was seized by at least one hijacker.

The hijacker, initially seated as a passenger announced that he was wearing a suicide belt and ordered the flight crew to divert to Cyprus, EgyptAir said.

Cypriot police said those in control of the aircraft had made no immediate demands after it landed. The Larnaca airport has however been closed and scheduled flights diverted elsewhere.

Journalists on ground in Cyprus report that some passengers have been able to leave the plane.

Story: BBC