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Egyptair plane is hijacked with reports that the suspects have ‘explosives strapped to body’

Published 08:57 29 Mar 2016 BST

Updated 09:30 29 Mar 2016 BST

Paul Moore
Egyptair plane is hijacked with reports that the suspects have ‘explosives strapped to body’

Homenews

A passenger plane has been hijacked during an internal flight between Alexandria to Cairo in Egypt, and there are reports of a bomb on board.

EgyptAir flight MSR181 is carrying 56  passengers on board and 7 crew members, and has now landed at Larnaca Airport in Cyprus. Some of the women and children were allowed to get off the aircraft, according to Egyptian and Cypriot officials. It's believed that two men are the perpetrators, but their motives remain unknown. https://twitter.com/scottcampbell/status/714713271857778695 The Civil Aviation Ministry said the pilot was threatened by a passenger who was wearing a suicide belt and threatened to detonate it. The Cyprus state broadcaster said at least one hijacker was thought to be strapped with explosives. The hijacker contacted the control tower at 5.30am UK time, and the plane has since landed. As stated above, Egyptair are currently in negotiations with the hijackers. Only four foreign passengers and the crew remain on the plane at present. https://twitter.com/EGYPTAIR/status/714703361245884417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/SkyNewsBreak/status/714712180810231809 https://twitter.com/ABC7/status/714719510532657152

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Egyptair plane is hijacked with reports that the suspects have 'explosives strapped to body'