All passengers freed except 5 foreigners, crew - EgyptAir

Ben Bassey 08:50 - 29 March 2016

"The negotiations with the hijacker have resulted in the release of all the plane passengers with the exception of the crew and five foreigners," the airline said in a statement.

About 30 to 40 passengers onboard the hijacked EgyptAir plane that was forced to land in Cyprus were released, Cyprus state media reported on Tuesday.

EgyptAir said negotiations had resulted in the release of all passengers on the hijacked Egyptian plane except for five foreigners and the crew.

The ministry in a statement that pilot Omar al-Gammal had informed authorities that he was threatened by a passenger who possessed a suicide belt and forced him to land in Larnaca.

CYBC said the airplane was parked at an apron at Larnaca airport. The hijacker asked police to back away from the aircraft, it said.