Women, children on hijacked Egyptian plane released

A screenshot taken on March 29, 2016 from anEgyptian television shows the image of the hijacker of the Egyptian passenger plane at Larnaca Airport in Cyprus. Hijacker of EgyptAir passenger plane has been identified as Egyptian, the State TV said Tuesday. Egyptair Company announced a plane that was heading from Alexandria to Cairo has been kidnapped and diverted to Cyprus on Tuesday, state TV reported. (Xinhua)

NICOSIA, March 29 -- The women and children on a hijacked Egyptian plane have been released after it landed in Larnaca, Cyprus, Cypriot authorities said Tuesday.

Authorities said the hijacker has released all the women and children, but kept all men aboard. Informed sources said the hijacker also let free two bishops from Greece.

A total of 55 passengers and seven crew members were on the plane when it was hijacked. Authorities had said earlier they believed 81 people were aboard.

Cypriot state-run broadcaster said the plane was hijacked en route from Alexandria to Cairo by a lone hijacker with a suicide explosive belt.

The identity of the hijacker is not known, and authorities said the hijacker has not made any demand yet. Sources at Larnaca airport said that the hijacker said he did not want any police or military personnel near the plane.

The hijacker, however, allowed stairs to be attached to the aircraft for the women and children to leave.

Security authorities said a crisis team has been set up. A team of the anti-terrorist special unit of the police has been deployed.

Larnaca airport has been closed and arriving planes are being redirected to Paphos in western Cyprus.

The hijacked aircraft landed at Larnaca airport earlier on Tuesday. Airport sources said Flight MS-81 was hijacked shortly after takeoff from Alexandria at 8 a.m.