EgyptAir flight MS181 en route Alexandria to Cairo has been hijacked by an Egyptian national passenger named Seif El Din Mustafa.
The Airbus A320 carrying 56 passengers onboard, in addition to seven crew members and one security member, was diverted to Larnaca Airport on the south coast of Cyprus.
The Egyptian Civil Aviation Ministry was quoted by BBC as saying: "The pilot said that a passenger told him he had an explosives vest and forced the plane to land in Larnaca."
However, the airliner has not yet confirmed the possibility of a passenger carrying explosives on board.
Media reports have emerged that the hijacker had freed most of the passengers and crew on board, and retained seven people, including three unidentified passengers.
The Guardian quoted an official of the Egyptian Ministry of Aviation as saying that the hijack could not be considered as a terrorist incident.
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By GlobalDataHowever, the ministry has not yet officially confirmed about the probability of a terrorist attack.
Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades said: "We are doing our utmost in order for everyone to be released and safe."
Negotiations are currently being carried out with the hijacker.
The airlines said in a statement on its website: "EgyptAir confirms that they are following up with the concerned authorities in Cyprus through EgyptAir IOCC and negotiations are undergoing with the hijacker."
