kidnapped in the early hours of Tuesday (29) by a man who would be with an explosive belt strapped to the body, said the Civil Aviation Ministry of Egypt . At about 8:15 a.m., negotiations were underway and seven people remained under the power of the kidnapper. The aircraft, an Airbus A320, took off from the Airport Burg al Arab in Alexandria, was diverted from its route around 8:30 am (local) and landed at Larnaca Airport in Cyprus, 20 minutes after the commander Omar Yamal warn Cypriot control tower. the plane parked in an isolated area was observed from afar by police.Negotiations began immediately after the landing of the aircraft. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus reported that the hijacker called Seif Eldin Mustafa, but gave no further details, according to Reuters. The Cypriot President ruled that the action is related to terrorism, according to AFP. The Egyptair confirmed that 81 people were aboard the Airbus, with the members of the crew. Gradually, the passengers were being released. Around 4:30 am (in Brazil), the hijacker released most of the passengers, according to Egyptair. More than an hour later, he released four foreign passengers.The crew (at least 7 persons), however, has been held captive. 8:15, four crew members and three passengers followed retained in the aircraft. A Cypriot TV showed a person coming out of the cockpit window, according to Reuters.
A person on the phone in the hijacked plane access ladder (Photo: Yiannis Kourtoglou / Reuters)
Misinformation
The kidnapping of reasons are not yet clear. A local radio reported that the man would request asylum in Cyprus . Two Cypriot broadcasters reported that the hijacker had dropped a letter at the airport in Larnaca, where it seemed to demand the release of prisoners in Egypt. Reuters came to report in the morning that kidnapper was an Egyptian citizen named Ibrahim Samaha and his woman, whose name was not released, would live in Cyprus.
News agencies speculate that the man said he pumps the body, but officials did not confirm the information.
Local police are on alert and the Cypriot Minister of Public Order, Ionas Nikolaou, was called to an emergency meeting.
For abduction account, Cyprus closed the Larnaca Airport. The flights were diverted to other complexes.
At least 21 foreigners eight nationalities traveling on the plane: eight Americans, four Dutch, four British, two Belgian, one French, a Syrian and an Italian.
