An EgyptAir flight from Alexandria to Cairo was hijacked and forced to fly to Cyprus where it landed at the island’s main commercial airport, at Larnaca.
The Egyptian aviation ministry said Omar al Gamal, the pilot of the diverted flight, said there was a threat from an individual who said he was wearing an explosive belt. “Negotiations with the hijacker resulted in the release of all passengers except the crew, who number seven, and four foreign passengers,” the ministry said in a statement.
Egypt named the hijacker as Ibrahim Samaha, an Egyptian national. According to a senior Cypriot official, he requested to speak directly to a Cypriot woman who is believed to be his estranged wife.