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An EgyptAir passenger plane landed in Cyprus after being hijacked on its journey to Cairo early Tuesday morning, resulting in the eventual arrest of an Egyptian male.
According to Egyptian state radio, the man was armed but reports indicate his motive was personal, not political. After several hours aboard the jet, he attempted to escape through the airplane window but was immediately arrested.
Its over. The #hijacker arrested. #LarnacaAirport # Egyptair
— Cyprus MFA (@CyprusMFA) March 29, 2016
Photo: Reuters
Our flight MS181 is officially hijacked. we'll publish an official statement now. #Egyptair
— EGYPTAIR (@EGYPTAIR) March 29, 2016
A handful of "foreigners" were reportedly held hostage on the plane after the assailant released all women, children and Egyptian nationals.
Hijackers asked all police forces to leave the area in order to release women and children passengers.....
— Androulla Vassiliou (@VassiliouEU) March 29, 2016
The U.K. Foreign Office announced they were in contact with Cypriot and Egyptian authorities, with many fearing a terror attack similar to the one that destroyed the Russian A321 airliner back in 2015.
pics: Passengers from hijacked Egypt Air plane are out of the plane now , Larnaca, Cyprus pic.twitter.com/JKqBiyENrn
— Khalid Khan™ (@khalidkhan787) March 29, 2016
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