EgytpAir Plane Hijacked, Passengers Released Upon Negotiations


An EgyptAir A320 Aircraft 
EgyptAir has announced that one of its flights, MS181 from Alexandria to Cairo has been hijacked. The aircraft with 81 passengers and crew has been diverted to Larnaca Airport, Cyprus where it landed following a threat from a passenger believed to be strapped with explosives. According to the airline, negotiations with the Hijacker have so far resulted in the release of all the passengers except four foreigners and the crew.  


Reports show that among those onboard the flight includes ten passengers of American decent, one Irish and eight British citizens among others. The nationalities of those left behind on board the flight is yet to be ascertained. EgyptAir is the first airline to be established in Africa and the Middle East and a member airline of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The carrier is IOSA certified and has been working assiduously to assure travellers of their safety and security in the face of the Metrojet accident of October 2015. Questions continue to be asked about the authenticity of the explosive belt and the situation surrounding the development.  

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