Hijacker Took Plane Over Ex-wife, Not Terrorism, Say Officials
The EgyptAir hijacker has released most of the passengers, except for four foreign nationals and seven crew members.
An EgyptAir Airbus A320 passenger plane was hijacked during a domestic flight from Alexandria to Cairo on Tuesday, and forced to land at Larnaca Airport in Cyprus.
Conflicting reports state that there were between 55 and 81 passengers along with seven crew members on board Flight MS181 when it was hijacked by a man who reports suggest claimed to be wearing an explosive belt.
After landing in Cyprus, the hijacker released most of the passengers, keeping four foreign nationals and the seven crew members on board the plane.
Authorities have identified the man as 27-year-old Egyptian national, Ibrahim Samaha. Police are currently negotiating with the hijacker, who has demanded a translator and political asylum in Cyprus, where reports suggest the man has an ex-wife and child.
Larnaca Airport has been closed and all flights have been diverted while the negotiations continue.
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