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| EgyptAir hijacked plane: Man wearing 'suicide belt' takes hostages on jet with British and American passengers on board | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An Egyptian passenger plane has landed in Cyprus after being hijacked by a man claiming to be wearing a suicide belt. | An Egyptian passenger plane has landed in Cyprus after being hijacked by a man claiming to be wearing a suicide belt. |
| EgyptAir Flight 181 was on a scheduled journey from Alexandria to Cairo when it veered off course on Tuesday morning. | EgyptAir Flight 181 was on a scheduled journey from Alexandria to Cairo when it veered off course on Tuesday morning. |
| Sources told Reuters that British and Americans passengers were on board but it was unclear if they had been released or were among those held hostage as negotiations continued. | Sources told Reuters that British and Americans passengers were on board but it was unclear if they had been released or were among those held hostage as negotiations continued. |
| The attacker was named in state-controlled Egyptian media as Ibrahim Samaha, an Egyptian man aged 27 or 28 years old who was sat in seat 38K on the plane. | The attacker was named in state-controlled Egyptian media as Ibrahim Samaha, an Egyptian man aged 27 or 28 years old who was sat in seat 38K on the plane. |
| Mustafa Bakry, an Egyptian MP, wrote on Twitter that Samaha was a visiting professor at the a university in Atlanta in the US. | Mustafa Bakry, an Egyptian MP, wrote on Twitter that Samaha was a visiting professor at the a university in Atlanta in the US. |
| But a professor at Alexandria University named Ibrahim Samaha denied he was the hijacker in an interview with BBC Arabic. | But a professor at Alexandria University named Ibrahim Samaha denied he was the hijacker in an interview with BBC Arabic. |
| Samaha said he was on the plane but had been among the passengers evacuated at Larnaca airport. | Samaha said he was on the plane but had been among the passengers evacuated at Larnaca airport. |
| “We did not know what was going on. We got on board the plane and we were surprised that the crew took all our passports, which is unusual for a domestic flight," he added. | “We did not know what was going on. We got on board the plane and we were surprised that the crew took all our passports, which is unusual for a domestic flight," he added. |
| “After a while we realised the altitude was getting higher, then we knew we were heading to Cyprus. At first the crew told us there was a problem with the plane and only later did we know it was hijacked.” | “After a while we realised the altitude was getting higher, then we knew we were heading to Cyprus. At first the crew told us there was a problem with the plane and only later did we know it was hijacked.” |
| While initial reports claimed the hijacker was demanding “political asylum”, Cyprus broadcasting (CYBC) reported that the man may have personal motives and related to an ex-wife on the island. | While initial reports claimed the hijacker was demanding “political asylum”, Cyprus broadcasting (CYBC) reported that the man may have personal motives and related to an ex-wife on the island. |
| Witnesses said the suspect threw a letter on to the airport tarmac in Larnaca, written in Arabic, asking that it be delivered to the woman, who is Cypriot. | Witnesses said the suspect threw a letter on to the airport tarmac in Larnaca, written in Arabic, asking that it be delivered to the woman, who is Cypriot. |
| Amid growing speculation about the hijacker's motives, the Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades said the Egypt plane hijacking was not related to “terrorism”. | Amid growing speculation about the hijacker's motives, the Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades said the Egypt plane hijacking was not related to “terrorism”. |
| The Guardian quoted a foreign ministry official in Cairo as saying: “He's not a terrorist, he's an idiot. Terrorists are crazy but they aren't stupid. This guy is.” | The Guardian quoted a foreign ministry official in Cairo as saying: “He's not a terrorist, he's an idiot. Terrorists are crazy but they aren't stupid. This guy is.” |
| But Mr Bakry later said reports of personal issues were untrue and that the man had a "political" motive, including demanding the release of prisoners. | But Mr Bakry later said reports of personal issues were untrue and that the man had a "political" motive, including demanding the release of prisoners. |
| Androulla Vassiliou, the Cypriot former European Commissioner for Education, wrote on Twitter that the plane landed at 8.50am local time (6.50am BST). | Androulla Vassiliou, the Cypriot former European Commissioner for Education, wrote on Twitter that the plane landed at 8.50am local time (6.50am BST). |
| “Hijacked aircraft of Egypt Air with 82 passengers landed at Larnaca airport,” she wrote. “We are anxious to learn more.” | “Hijacked aircraft of Egypt Air with 82 passengers landed at Larnaca airport,” she wrote. “We are anxious to learn more.” |
| The number of people on board was later revised to 56 passengers, seven crew and a member of security staff in a statement from EgyptAir. | The number of people on board was later revised to 56 passengers, seven crew and a member of security staff in a statement from EgyptAir. |
| Satellite data recorded by the Flight Aware website showed the Airbus A320 took off from Borg El Arab Airport as scheduled but lists its status as “result unknown”. | Satellite data recorded by the Flight Aware website showed the Airbus A320 took off from Borg El Arab Airport as scheduled but lists its status as “result unknown”. |
| A statement from EgyptAir said initial negotiations with a single hijacker had seen all those on board released apart from the flight crew and four foreigners. | A statement from EgyptAir said initial negotiations with a single hijacker had seen all those on board released apart from the flight crew and four foreigners. |
| Egyptian officials later said that more people had been released, leaving seven people - the captain, co-pilot, an air stewardess, a security officer and three passengers. | Egyptian officials later said that more people had been released, leaving seven people - the captain, co-pilot, an air stewardess, a security officer and three passengers. |
| The country's civil aviation minister said the hijacker did not have a gun but claimed to be wearing a suicide belt, which could be fake. He said he could not confirm the suspect's identity. | The country's civil aviation minister said the hijacker did not have a gun but claimed to be wearing a suicide belt, which could be fake. He said he could not confirm the suspect's identity. |
| Updates posted in Arabic on Twitter by the airline said a passenger wearing a suicide belt had threatened the pilot, Omar Jamal, and that negotiations were underway. | Updates posted in Arabic on Twitter by the airline said a passenger wearing a suicide belt had threatened the pilot, Omar Jamal, and that negotiations were underway. |
| A spokesperson said the aircraft had already been diverted to Larnaca when it was hijacked, adding: "The aircraft is an Airbus A320 with 56 passengers onboard in addition to seven crew members and one EgyptAir security member." | A spokesperson said the aircraft had already been diverted to Larnaca when it was hijacked, adding: "The aircraft is an Airbus A320 with 56 passengers onboard in addition to seven crew members and one EgyptAir security member." |
| Footage from the airport showed the plane on a runway and passengers leaving the aircraft before getting on to waiting buses with their luggage. | Footage from the airport showed the plane on a runway and passengers leaving the aircraft before getting on to waiting buses with their luggage. |
| The Foreign and Commonwealth Office could not confirm whether any Britons were among the passengers, saying: “We are in contact with the Cypriot and Egyptian authorities after a hijacked plane landed in Cyprus.” | The Foreign and Commonwealth Office could not confirm whether any Britons were among the passengers, saying: “We are in contact with the Cypriot and Egyptian authorities after a hijacked plane landed in Cyprus.” |
| Hossni Hassan, the director of Borg El Arab Airport, said there were 26 foreigners on board, including eight Americans, four Britons, four Dutch, two Belgians, a French national, an Italian, two Greeks and one Syrian, with three other foreigners unidentified. | Hossni Hassan, the director of Borg El Arab Airport, said there were 26 foreigners on board, including eight Americans, four Britons, four Dutch, two Belgians, a French national, an Italian, two Greeks and one Syrian, with three other foreigners unidentified. |
| The hijacking comes five months after a Russian aircraft crashed over Egypt's Sinai Peninsula minutes after it took off from Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. | The hijacking comes five months after a Russian aircraft crashed over Egypt's Sinai Peninsula minutes after it took off from Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. |
| All 224 people on board were killed in the crash. Russia later said an explosive device brought down the aircraft after Isis claimed responsibility. | All 224 people on board were killed in the crash. Russia later said an explosive device brought down the aircraft after Isis claimed responsibility. |