Egypt jet with 55 people aboard hijacked
An Egypt Air domestic flight from Alexandria to Cairo has been hijacked and landed in Cyprus's Larnaca airport, state radio says.
The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation said 55 people were on board the Airbus 320 on Tuesday, including seven crew.
The hijacking, apparently by a lone man, occurred in Cyprus's flight information region and the airliner was diverted to Larnaca.
Cyprus police said the hijacker contacted the control tower at 8:30 am (0530 GMT) and the plane was given permission to land at 8:50 am.
The man reportedly threatened the captain, saying he was wearing an explosive vest. Egypt Air said the hijacker freed all on board except three passengers and four crew.
The state news agency MENA said the hijacker is an Egyptian national called Seifeddin Mustafa. He was sitting on seat K38, it said, without giving further details.
The Cyprus state broadcaster said the man had asked for the release of female prisoners in Egypt.
The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation had earlier said the man has an ex-wife in Cyprus and may have personal motives.
Witnesses said the hijacker threw a letter on the apron of the airport, written in Arabic, asking that it be delivered to his Cypriot ex-wife.
Larnaca Airport has been closed and ambulances have been sent to the scene.
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