Egyptair says negotiated release of all aboard hijacked plane except five foreigners and the crew.
Passengers on the EgyptAir plane that was diverted to Cyprus included eight Britons and 10 Americans, three security sources at Alexandria airport said.
Passengers from hijacked Egypt Air plane are out of the plane now , Larnaca, Cyprus Except 5 pic.twitter.com/Tf6uwWfIuE
— Harry.Charalambopoulos (@SouvlakiForYou) March 29, 2016
https://twitter.com/EGYPTAIR/status/714715236192886784
Passengers have disembarked. @EGYPTAIR #hijacking pic.twitter.com/IudPnaBdvN
— Ollie Michael (@OllieMichael15) March 29, 2016
- 07:23 GMT
Between 30 and 40 passengers have been released from the hijacked EgyptAir passenger plane, which made a forced landing in Larnaca, Cyprus state media report.
07:22 GMTAirport security sources maintain there are 10 Americans and eight Britons among the passengers remaining on the highjacked plane.
07:20 GMTThere are reportedly 55 passengers and seven crewmembers remaining on board the A320 aircraft.
07:16 GMTThe highjacker threatened the pilot, Omar al-Gammal, with a suicide belt. He has allegedly released all women, children and Egyptian citizens, local TV reports.