Egypt Air passenger plane is hijacked

Polo_Mint · 29-03-2016 07:49AM #1

A hijacked Egypt Air passenger plane has landed at Larnaca Airport in Cyprus, according to Cypriot media

The hijackers took control of the plane at 8.30am local time - 6.30am UK time - shortly after the EgyptAir flight had taken off from Alexandria

The plane - which was en route to the Egyptian capital Cairo - landed around 20 minutes later

It is being claimed that police have been told to clear the area so that women and children can be let off the plane.

The information has been shared by a former EU Commissioner.

According to reports, there at 82 passengers on board.

There are also reports that there is a bomb on the plane, but this is yet to be confirmed.

The flight number is MS181.

https://www.flightradar24.com/MSR181/93d5b9d

Wibbs · 29-03-2016 07:53AM

Kinda mad the way the world has changed when among my first thoughts was "oh thank christ, it sounds like an old fashioned hijacking"

old_aussie · 29-03-2016 08:03AM

Why thank Christ?

BoJack Horseman · 29-03-2016 08:03AM

How retro.
probably hipster terrorists.

And as usual.... nothing to do with Islam (apparently).

FalconGirl · 29-03-2016 08:05AM

The frequency of terrorist events is really alarming.

tigger123 · 29-03-2016 08:13AM

Doesn't sound like ISIS if they're letting women and children off the plane (?)

Lovely Bloke · 29-03-2016 08:15AM

tigger123 wrote: »

Doesn't sound like ISIS if they're letting women and children off the plane (?)

seemingly only the Egyptian ones - reports of about 10 USAians and 8 Britishers on the plane.

12Phase · 29-03-2016 08:15AM

Sounds like they think they'll be allowed to take off again. In which case they're absolutely kidding themselves.

Scuid Mhór · 29-03-2016 08:19AM

tigger123 wrote: »

Doesn't sound like ISIS if they're letting women and children off the plane (?)

Apparently Islamic State representatives have just hijacked a ship in the Philippines. The question is whether the two events are independent of each other or not. Various sources are conflicting with each other but both stories are only breaking.

Polo_Mint · 29-03-2016 08:21AM

Reports are now emerging that there are eight British people on board the hijacked plane.

Women and children have been seen leaving the plane with luggage.

Police are reportedly now communicating with the hijackers

Polo_Mint · 29-03-2016 08:21AM

The pilot of the plane was threatened by a passenger strapped with explosives, Egypt’s Civil Aviation Ministry said.

FalconGirl · 29-03-2016 08:23AM

All passengers released except for crew and 5 passengers. That is somewhat a relief. Not a danger the plane will be allowed take to the skies again.

kfrp · 29-03-2016 08:24AM

Its unusual that they have left people off the plane and also that they have landed.

I wonder is the vest real?

Penny Tration · 29-03-2016 08:24AM

Christ, I hope this doesn't end badly

Scuid Mhór · 29-03-2016 08:24AM

How do you even hijack a plane in 2016? Or are the airport regulations we're used to only law in North America and the European Union?

mynameis905 · 29-03-2016 08:25AM

All passengers off now except the crew and five non-nationals

12Phase · 29-03-2016 08:26AM

I wonder what exactly they're trying to 'negotiate'.

old_aussie · 29-03-2016 08:26AM

How d the hijackers get on the plane in Egypt, is there no security in Egypt?

One plane blown up and now this.

Did the hijackers have help in getting the explosive vest aboard.

The end of tourism in Egypt for the near future!

29-03-2016 08:27AM

So strange that passengers are walking away with their luggage!

Uriel. · 29-03-2016 08:28AM

mynameis905 wrote: »

All passengers off now except the crew and five non-nationals

Surely not IS so.

Polo_Mint · 29-03-2016 08:28AM

old_aussie wrote: »

How d the hijackers get on the plane in Egypt, is there no security in Egypt?

One plane blown up and now this.

Did the hijackers have help in getting the explosive vest and bomb aboard.

The end of tourism in Egypt for the near future!

It depends what you mean Security

An EgyptAir mechanic whose cousin joined Islamic State in Syria is suspected of planting a bomb on a Russian passenger plane that was blown out of Egypt's skies in late October, according to sources familiar with the matter.

12Phase · 29-03-2016 08:29AM

Sounds more like old school hijackers.

Wonder what they want tho.

Redzer7 · 29-03-2016 08:29AM

Reports of 3 British, 1 Italian and 1 Irish left on board with the crew.

Penny Tration · 29-03-2016 08:35AM

Suspect named as Ibraham Samaha, apparently demanded political asylum and a translator, according to the Telegraph.

murpho999 · 29-03-2016 08:39AM

mynameis905 wrote: »

All passengers off now except the crew and five non-nationals

What are non-nationals?

Penny Tration · 29-03-2016 08:40AM

murpho999 wrote: »

What are non-nationals?

Non-Egyptian passengers.

AndyBoBandy · 29-03-2016 08:43AM

Redzer7 wrote: »

Reports of 3 British, 1 Italian and 1 Irish left on board with the crew.

Sky News saying Irish authorities have confirmed an Irish national as a passenger

murpho999 · 29-03-2016 08:44AM

Penny Tration wrote: »

Non-Egyptian passengers.

OK, so non-Egyptian nationals as I'm sure those remaining all have a nationality.

Redzer7 · 29-03-2016 08:46AM

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

Sky News saying Irish authorities have confirmed an Irish national as a passenger

BBC World News have also changed their story now saying that the Italian passenger is in fact American.

Mint Sauce · 29-03-2016 08:47AM

Polo_Mint wrote: »

The pilot of the plane was threatened by a passenger strapped with explosives, Egypt’s Civil Aviation Ministry said.

Confirmed by BBC News as well. Some scary sh!t going on. Hopefully passengers and crew remain un harmed.

thattequilagirl · 29-03-2016 08:47AM

old_aussie wrote: »

How d the hijackers get on the plane in Egypt, is there no security in Egypt?

One plane blown up and now this.

Did the hijackers have help in getting the explosive vest aboard.

The end of tourism in Egypt for the near future!

It was an internal flight so security is usually not as strict as international flights.

*Egypt Air passenger plane is hijacked*

Comments

Egypt Air passenger plane is hijacked