Hijacked EgyptAir Plane Makes Forced Landing at Larnaca Airport, Cyprus

An EgyptAir airliner which was hijacked by an individual claiming to have an explosive has been forced to divert to Larnaca airport on the south coast of Cyprus.

Flight MS181, an Airbus A320 carrying 81 passengers from Alexandria to Cairo, was taken over after a passenger said he was wearing an explosives belt.

A local journalist has told the BBC that some passengers had been seen leaving the plane.

Larnaca airport has been closed and scheduled flights diverted elsewhere.

Negotiations are under way but no demands have been made by those in control of the plane, reports say.