TIA NEWS
An EgyptAir airliner has been hijacked and forced to divert to Larnaca airport on the south coast of Cyprus. However most of the passengers on board have been freed, the airline says. Egypt Air said negotiations had resulted in the release of all those on board Flight MS181 apart from the crew and four foreign passengers.
It was taken over after a passenger said he was wearing an explosives belt. Alexandria to Cairo. The airlines said the plane was carrying 56 passengers and 7 crew. Larnaca airport has been closed and scheduled flights diverted elsewhere.
The Egyptian civil aviation ministry said in a statement the pilot said that a passenger told he had an explosives vest and forced the plane to land in Larnaca. Cypriot foreign ministry Alexandros Zenon told the information they have so far is that it is one hijacker. The person has yet to make any demands.
