According to a report via Times Live, an Egypt Air passenger plane, which was heading from Alexandria to Cairo, had recently been reported as hijacked. According to the report, civil aviation sources and police said the hijackers forced the pilots to head to Cyprus.
The report further revealed that 55 people were on board, with a crew of 7. The hijacking occurred in Cyprus’s flight information region and the airliner was diverted to Larnaca.
According to a report by express.co.uk, the hijackers had taken hold of the plane at 8:30am local time within Egypt. Within the express.co.uk report it was revealed that pilot Omar al-Gammal had informed authorities that he was threatened, by a passenger who was equipped with explosives, to land in Larnaca.
According to the report, it is unknown how many hijackers are on-board the aircraft; however, the report reveals that EgyptAir said negotiations had meant the majority of passengers have been released, but four ‘foreign’ people, including one Irish person and crew remained on-board.
According to express.co.uk report, the hijackers have demanded that police vehicles move away from the aircraft. Emergency services and a crisis team are on standby at the airport.
EgyptAir had tweeted to confirm reports, saying: “Our flight MS181 is officially hijacked. we’ll publish an official statement now. #Egyptair”
Live updates on the situation can be found via BBC.com.
During the hijacking, social media was set ablaze with various comments relating to the incident. These posts can be found below:
How did someone wearing a suicide vest get past any airport security . This is a proper scandal this #AirEgypt
— chris latimer (@cjlatimer16) March 29, 2016
@WilliamsJon bizarre. How can lone hijacker get “suicide vest” aboard, then hold off 11 people. Hard to believe these #AirEgypt reports
— Christopher Johnson (@globaliteman) March 29, 2016
The #AirEgypt flight was originally flying from Alexandria to Cairo, but has been rerouted to Cyprus. No word of who or what is behind this.
— Cassidy. (@Tweets_McGee_) March 29, 2016
Egyptian media identifies one hijacker of #EgyptAir plane as Ibrahim Samaha https://t.co/6XheNMGTeP pic.twitter.com/o2fdbXgmAr
— Raghav Seth (@raghavseth212) March 29, 2016
Please ‘know’ before you jump to conclusions. #EgyptAir hijacker has personal and not religious/political motives, reports @guardian.
— Tajdar O. Chaudry (@MSTRTjay) March 29, 2016
Can I just say, big respect to pilot of #EgyptAir flight who kept his cool & was able to secure release of majority of passengers quickly.
— Hardik Shah (@hardik_shah123) March 29, 2016
Darryl Linington