Updated | A domestic Egyptair flight from Alexandria to Cairo is reported to have been hijacked as it landed in Cyprus, with at least one man on board reportedly armed, local state radio said, according to Reuters.
At least 55 passengers are on board, along with a crew of seven the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation reported, though Egypt airline officials reported over 80 people were on board.
According to the broadcaster the hijacking occurred in Cyprus's flight information region and the airliner was diverted to the Cypriot port-city of Larnaca.
Egyptian airline officials confirmed the incident on social media in Arabic and in English, though details about the assailant or assailants were not given.
Our flight MS181 is officially hijacked. we'll publish an official statement now. #Egyptair
— EGYPTAIR (@EGYPTAIR) March 29, 2016
EgyptAir reported there were 81 passengers on board and confirmed the site of landing as Larnaca and details about the aircraft—an Airbus 320.
Following negotiations onboard, EgyptAir confirmed that nearly all of the passengers on board have been released.
Negotiations with the kidnapped result in the release of all the passengers, except the crew and four foreigners.
— EGYPTAIR (@EGYPTAIR) March 29, 2016
Egypt's tourism sector has been hit hard by security warnings issued to foreign travellers from other countries after Islamists claimed responsibility for downing a Russian passenger jet flying from Egypt's Sharm El Sheikh to St Petersburg.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
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