An Egyptair domestic flight from Alexandria to Cairo was hijacked this morning and landed at Larnaca airport in Cyprus. This was reported by state radio, according to Reuters. On board is an Egyptian hijacker who disembarked all passengers except the crew and four foreigners. Among these also an Italian citizen, who however was later released as confirmed by the Farnesina.
"He's not a terrorist, but an idiot." Thus an official of the Egyptian Foreign Ministry. "The Cypriot side informed the Egyptian crisis unit that there was no explosive on board the hijacked Egyptian plane." The hijacker is 27 years old and a professor of veterinary medicine in Alexandria. The young man has been identified by the name of Ibrahim Samaha, has dual citizenship, American and Egyptian.
"The hijacker addressed a four-page message in Arabic to his ex-wife": writes the Egyptian site Al Ahram quoting the "Cypriot radio". His ex-wife, Marina Parashkou, is allegedly participating in the negotiations. According to some media outlets quoted by the BBC in a tweet, the hijacker asked to see his ex-wife.
The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation reports that there were 55 people on board, with 7 crew members. Previously there was talk of about 80 people. A little while ago Egyptair tweeted a message announcing that, after negotiations with the hijacker, all passengers with the exception of 4 "foreigners" and the crew who are still on board have been released.
Negotiations with the Hijacker result in the release of all the passengers, except the crew and four foreigners.
- EGYPTAIR (@EGYPTAIR) 29 March 2016
"The hijacker is of Egyptian nationality, his name is Ibrahim Samaha and he was sitting in seat 38 K," writes the official Egyptian news agency Mena. Egyptian state TV cites "local sources" according to which the hijacker has asked for "political asylum in Cyprus". The man had "asked to go to Istanbul but the pilot refused," adds the superimposed TV.
