A hijacked EgyptAir plane has landed at Larnaca airport in Cyprus, according to news reports quoting officials and aviation authorities.
The plane, an Airbus A320, was flying from Alexandria to Cairo and, according to Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CYBC), one man onboard is thought to be armed.
Egypt’s aviation authority said the plane carried 81 people.
Egypt’s Civil Aviation Ministry said in a statement that pilot Omar al-Gammal had informed authorities that he was threatened by a passenger who possessed a suicide belt and forced him to land in Larnaca.
CYBC said the airplane was parked at an apron at Larnaca airport. The hijacker asked police to back away from the aircraft, it said.
It also reported that women and children were allowed off the plane and were being transferred by bus.
EgyptAir said in a statement that only crew members and several foreigners remained on the hijacked plane.
More to follow…
Dis is terrible