EgyptAir Plane Hijacking: Hijackers Release All Passengers Except Crew and Four Foreigners

09:30

EgyptAir announced that negotiations with the hijackers have resulted in the release of all passengers, except for the crew and four foreigners.

An EgyptAir plane with about 55 passengers on a flight between the Egyptian cities of Alexandria and Cairo was hijacked and forced to land at the airport in Larnaca, Cyprus, Cypriot police announced, as reported by agencies.

Media initially reported that there were about 80 people on board, but this number was later corrected to 55.

EgyptAir confirmed that their flight MS181 was officially hijacked. Sources state that it is an Airbus 320 type aircraft and add that there is at least one armed hijacker on board.

Agencies report that the plane hijacking was carried out on a domestic flight between Alexandria and Cyprus and that it was initiated by at least one armed hijacker.

Negotiations with the hijacker are underway, and EgyptAir confirmed that the attacker forced the pilot to land. It is reported that women and children were released from the plane.

They requested that the Airbus 320 land in Cyprus, stated the airline's spokesperson, according to the BBC.