CAIRO (Web Desk) – The hijacker of an EgyptAir airliner surrendered to authorities at Larnaca airport in Cyprus on Tuesday, Cypriot authorities said.
The hijacker emerged from the aircraft with his hands in the air, state TV said.
BREAKING Unconfirmed photo of #EgyptAir flight #MS181 hijacker wearing belt https://t.co/tqFPgUKUbI pic.twitter.com/v7aKdn7ipo
— AIRLIVE (@airlivenet) March 29, 2016
An Egyptian flight, MS 181, travelling from Alexandria to Cairo was hijacked on Tuesday, the airline’s spokeswoman said.
The hijacker asked for the flight to land in Cyprus, said the spokeswoman, who asked not to be identified in line with company policy. The island’s state broadcaster later reported that the plane landed at Larnaca airport.
LIVE UPDATES
This is end of live updates, as negotiations are underway with the hijacker. We will update as soon as the matter is resolved.
Picture of plane’s hijacker:
Hijacker demands political asylum in Cyprus:
The plane hijacker has now placed another demand of political asylum before the officials.
Hijacker is finally named:
Several media sources have named the hijacker Ibrahim Samaha. He is said to be a citizen of Lebanon.
Hijacker’s first demand surfaces:
The international airline monitor, AirLive, has claimed that the hijacker wants to send 4 pages written in Arabic to a woman living in Cyprus.
Crew and FOUR foreigner now on-board:
According to EgyptAir spokesman only four foreigner and crew members -said to be seven- are now inside the hijacked plane.
Fighter jets patrol above Cyprus airport:
Media reports say that fighter jets can be seen patrolling above the Cyprus airport where the hijacked plane has landed. Negotiation still underway with the hijacker, while no demands still made public.
Hijacker allows passengers to go, except few:
The hijacker has allowed all passengers to leave the aircraft except the cabin crew and five foreigner, who are said to be British and US national.
The hijacked plane’s first picture surfaces from Cyprus:
BREAKING First picture of hijacked #Egyptair A320 at Larcana airport https://t.co/tqFPgUKUbI pic.twitter.com/TgtVTcTOp2
— AIRLIVE (@airlivenet) March 29, 2016
Plane Hijack confirmed by officials:
BREAKING Airbus A320-20 flight #MS181 from Cairo has been hijacked https://t.co/tqFPgUKUbI pic.twitter.com/1vcw3qpSMX
— AIRLIVE (@airlivenet) March 29, 2016