Hijacked EgyptAir plane lands in Cyprus

[alleinesein]

www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/03/reports-hijacked-egyptair-plane-lands-cyprus-160329062441032.html

Story is developing.


An EgyptAir plane carrying more than 80 people has landed at Larnaca airport in Cyprus, according to news reports quoting officials and aviation authorities.



The plane was flying from Alexandria to Cairo and, according to Cyprus state radio, one man onboard is thought to be armed.

[alleinesein]

www.dw.com/en/hijacked-egyptair-passenger-airplane-lands-in-cyprus/a-19147300

Local media have reported that at least one man is armed. Over 80 passengers are believed to be on board, Cyprus police told state broadcaster RIK.

A domestic EgyptAir passenger plane with over 80 passengers on board on Tuesday landed at Larnaca International Airport in Cyprus, according to police and aviation authorities.

The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation reported 55 people were on board flight MS181 along with a seven-member crew, citing Egyptian aviation officials.

"Hijackers asked all police forces to leave the area in order to release women and children passengers," said former EU Education Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou.

Police said a crisis team was deployed to the aiport.

The EgyptAir aircraft was flying a domestic Cairo-Alexandria route before being hijacked. According to local media, the hijackers requested to land in Cyprus.

[alleinesein]

EgyptAir confirmed the flight was hijacked with 81 passengers on board. The Egyptian airline added a man strapped with explosives forced the pilot to re-direct the flight to Cyprus.

[mrsukyankee]

I want to know HOW someone could get on a plane with explosives strapped to them in this day and age. HOW?

[alleinesein]

Mar 29, 2016 2:43:26 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

I want to know HOW someone could get on a plane with explosives strapped to them in this day and age. HOW?

I know right?!?!?!  

Thankfully most everyone is unharmed and safe.

Per DW- EgyptAir said following negotiations with the hijacker, all of the passengers on board were released "except the (cabin) crew and four foreigners."

[karinothing]

Just heard it is not terrorism. As the spokesperson said "not a terrorist, just an idiot" I guess something to do with his wife.

[ChillyMcFreeze]

Thank god this didn't end so much worse.

[secretlyevil]

This world has truly lost it's collective mind.

[miniroller]

Mar 29, 2016 6:04:42 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Just heard it is not terrorism. As the spokesperson said "not a terrorist, just an idiot" I guess something to do with his wife.

Estranged wife, dispute over custody agreement/ child support is what I heard from the news. Idiot, indeed. Guess who's not going to see his kid now?!

[Velvetshady]

Mar 29, 2016 6:11:14 GMT -5 ChillyMcFreeze said:

Thank god this didn't end so much worse.

This. I'm probably one of the few of here that had their mind flashback to this incident