Egyptian passenger plane hijacked, forced to land in Cyprus

(Baonghean.vn) - Local media reported that at least one attacker was armed. More than 80 passengers were on the flight, according to information provided by Cyprus police to the state news agency RIK.

Police cordon off Larnaca airport near the hijacked EgyptAir Airbus A320 on March 29. Photo: Reuters.

According to police and aviation officials, an Egyptian domestic airline EgyptAir carrying more than 80 passengers landed at Larnaca International Airport in Cyprus on March 29.

“The hijackers demanded that all police leave the area before releasing the women and children,” said Androulla Vassiliou, former European Union (EU) commissioner for education.

EgyptAir said that after negotiations with the hijackers, all passengers were released "except the crew and four foreigners".

"The Airbus A320, carrying 81 passengers and flying from Alexandria to Cairo, was hijacked. The pilot said a passenger claimed to have explosives and forced the plane to land in Larnaca," the Egyptian civil aviation authority said in a statement.

Police forces are deploying teams amid the crisis at the airport.

Flight MS181 was on a domestic flight from Cairo to Alexandria when it was forced to divert to Cyprus. Source: CNN.

The hijacking comes less than six months after a Russian airliner was shot down over Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, killing all 224 people on board. The incident was claimed by militants in Sinai province with links to the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS).

Thu Giang

(According to dpa, Reuters, AP)