{UAH} Man Strapped With Explosives Hijacks Plane

Man Strapped With Explosives Hijacks Plane

Sky News

March 29, 2016

A man strapped with explosives has hijacked a passenger plane during an internal flight in Egypt.

:: Live updates: Passenger Plane Hijacked

EgyptAir flight MSR181 has now landed at Larnaca Airport in Cyprus, where all but four foreign passengers and the crew are being allowed to disembark.

Eight Britons, 10 Americans and one Irish were reported to have been among the 81 passengers on board when the plane took off. The nationalities of those left on board is unknown.

The hijacker - reported to be an Egyptian national - has asked police to leave the runway.

The Civil Aviation Ministry said the pilot was threatened by a passenger wearing a suicide belt.

A statement said: "The pilot said that a passenger told him he had an explosives vest and forced the plane to land in Larnaca."

Cypriot TV is reporting the hijacker has asked for political asylum and a translator.

The airliner took off from Alexandria at 8am.

A hijacker contacted the control tower at 8.30am (5.30am in UK) and the plane was given permission to land at 8.50am.

A crisis team including ambulances were deployed to the airport. 

EgyptAir tweeted: "Our flight MS181 is officially hijacked. We'll publish an official statement now."

Israel scrambled warplanes in its airspace as a precaution in response to the hijacking, according to an Israeli military source.

The hijacking calls into question air security in Egypt five months after a Russian plane crashed over Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, killing all 224 people on board.

Russia said a bomb brought down the plane and the attack was claimed by IS.

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Gwokto La'Kitgum

"Even a small dog can piss on a tall Building", Jim Hightower

"But this I know, UPC believed and still believes in

very high education. We can call Obote all bad names we have, but the bottom line remains that he got more scholarships for Buganda than all previous Uganda leaders combined. That includes Sir Edward Mutesa, President Lule, President Binayisa, up to and into Ssabasajja Mutebi. Who all happen to be Baganda leaders." Mulindwa

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