This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2016/mar/29/egyptair-hijack-plane-from-alexandria-to-cairo-lands-in-cyprus-live
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 8 | Version 9 |
---|---|
EgyptAir hijacking ends after man arrested at Larnaca airport – live | |
(35 minutes later) | |
1.06pm BST | |
13:06 | |
Reuters has some more on the hijacker’s seemingly confused motives, quoting Egypt’s prime minister, Sherif Ismail: | |
At some moments he asked to meet with a representative of the European Union and at other points he asked to go to another airport but there was nothing specific. | |
12.58pm BST | |
12:58 | |
EgyptAir has also now officially declared the hijack to be over. | |
Official sources at EGYPTAIR declared the release of all the hostages and the arrest of the hijacker. #EgyptAir | |
12.57pm BST | |
12:57 | |
Reuters is quoting the Egyptian prime minister, Ibrahim Mahlab, as saying the hijacker was Egyptian and had – among other demands – asked to meet EU officials and go to other airports. | |
Authorities would question the man to “ascertain (his) true motives”, Mahlab added. | |
12.53pm BST | |
12:53 | |
Yet more confirmation, this from a Cyprus government spokesman. | |
The hijacker has just been arrested. | |
12.51pm BST | |
12:51 | |
Here’s video footage of the man escaping earlier from the cockpit window. | |
12.50pm BST | |
12:50 | |
More confirmation is coming of the end of the hijack, with Reuters saying a fifth person left the plane. Some reports are saying one person who left the plane had their hands in the air and was arrested. We did not see this on the live TV images. | |
12.46pm BST | |
12:46 | |
Hijack over – Cypriot foreign ministry | |
No more details, but this is their official Twitter feed. | |
Its over. The #hijacker arrested. #LarnacaAirport # Egyptair | |
12.42pm BST | |
12:42 | |
Ruth Michaelson | |
As we await more movement from the plane, Ruth Michaelson in Cairo has this on the wider aviation security situation: | |
Zack Gold, a nonresident fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East and an expert on Egyptian security issues, said that whatever the hijacker’s motives, this incident reflects Egypt’s ongoing issues with airport security following the downing of Metrojet 7K9268 in October. | |
“The reaction to this story suggests that five months after the Metrojet bombing many still aren’t satisfied with how Egypt improved its aviation security. And it is concerning that the civil aviation minister cannot rule out that the hijacker has a bomb, therefore admitting that a bomb could have gotten through the Alexandria airport. | |
“However, as the facts unfold and the incident appears to be one of a disturbed individual, the full record should note how professionally EgyptAir crew and pilots handled the situation and kept passengers safe,” he said. | |
12.38pm BST | |
12:38 | |
Here’s a photo of the man climbing down from the cockpit window. | |
12.32pm BST | 12.32pm BST |
12:32 | 12:32 |
Confirmation of what we’ve just seen from AFP. | Confirmation of what we’ve just seen from AFP. |
#BREAKING At least four more people leave hijacked EgyptAir plane: AFP | #BREAKING At least four more people leave hijacked EgyptAir plane: AFP |
12.30pm BST | 12.30pm BST |
12:30 | 12:30 |
TV pictures show people leaving plane | TV pictures show people leaving plane |
Images from Cypriot TV have shown someone, possibly dressed in a uniform, climb from an open cockpit window of the plane and run away. Other images have just shown about three people leave the plane via the steps. It is not known if this means the siege is ending. | Images from Cypriot TV have shown someone, possibly dressed in a uniform, climb from an open cockpit window of the plane and run away. Other images have just shown about three people leave the plane via the steps. It is not known if this means the siege is ending. |
12.19pm BST | 12.19pm BST |
12:19 | 12:19 |
UK officials still do not know for certain if any Britons are caught up in the hijack, according to David Cameron’s spokesman (quotes via PA): | UK officials still do not know for certain if any Britons are caught up in the hijack, according to David Cameron’s spokesman (quotes via PA): |
Our diplomats on the ground are in touch with the Cypriot authorities. There is obviously speculation out there about numbers. At this stage we are working to establish what the facts actually are. | Our diplomats on the ground are in touch with the Cypriot authorities. There is obviously speculation out there about numbers. At this stage we are working to establish what the facts actually are. |