At least one armed passenger has hijacked an EgyptAir passenger plane with 81 people on board, and ordered it to fly to Cyprus.
The Airbus 320 plane was scheduled to fly from Alexandria to Cairo. According to a statement released by EgyptAir, the pilot called informing that one passenger claims to have an explosive belt and would activate it unless the plane changes course. It has now landed on the Larnaca airport in Cyprus. The airport is now closed, as the hijacking drama develops, with flights to Larnaca diverted elsewhere on Cyprus.
Early media reports indicate that the hijacker has promised to release the women and children on board.