News

EgyptAir Hijacking: Hostage Situation Over, Hijacker Arrested

EgyptAir Hijacking: Hostage Situation Over, Hijacker Arrested

Screen grab from RT video
Screen grab from RT video

All hostages have been released from the hijacked EgyptAir plane and the hijacker has been arrested, Cyprus’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and EgyptAir announced via Twitter.

Videos of the plane on the runway showed the remaining hostages fleeing from the plane in two groups. The first group of four people included three who departed via the plane exit door and one man who could be seen climbing out of the cockpit window. The second group included three people who ran out from the plane door.

Photos emerged earlier showing the hijacker wearing a white belt around his waist. Egypt’s Minister of Civil Aviation Sherif Fathy had said during a press conference that authorities remained unsure whether the alleged suicide belt was real but that security officials were treating the threat as real.

The hijacker’s specific demands remain unclear; initial reports had claimed that he was attempting to reach his Cypriot ex-wife but Cyprus’ state broadcasting later reported that the hijacker demanded the release of prisoners in Egypt.

EgyptAir flight MS181 was en route to Cairo from Alexandria’s Borg Al-Arab at around 7 am on Tuesday when the hijacker began to demand that the plane land in Turkey or Cyprus and threatened to detonate a suicide belt.

Upon the plane’s landing in Cyprus’ Larnaca airport, several passengers were released but the pilot, three foreign passengers and some crew members remained onboard for some time while negotiations with the hijacker were underway.

This story is developing.

Passengers, Crew From Hijacked EgyptAir Plane Arrive Safely in Cairo
EgyptAir Hijacking: Negotiations Ongoing, Authorities Treating Threat as 'Real'

Subscribe to our newsletter


News

More in News

Smoking in Egypt is Now 0.5 Percent Less Prevalent Than in 2020

Omar Auf1 June 2023

Egyptian Law Change Allows Foreign Nationals to Apply for Citizenship

Egyptian Streets1 June 2023

Egyptian Prime Minister Welcomes Palestinian Delegation to Discuss Areas of Cooperation

Nadia Salem30 May 2023

Sisi Congratulates Erdogan on Election Win, Egypt and Turkey to Restore Diplomatic Ties

Farah Rafik30 May 2023

Egypt’s Al Ahly Basketball Team Clinch African Championship

Shereif Barakat28 May 2023

Egypt’s Wrestling Federation Under Investigation Following Young Wrestler’s Escape to France

Shereif Barakat27 May 2023

Egypt Delaying Wheat Payments, but Supply Ongoing as Sellers “Trust” Authority

Omar Auf27 May 2023

Entertainment Activities in Egypt Facing New Tax Measures

Egyptian Streets25 May 2023