Civil aviation spokesman: Priority given to hostages' release, 80% of passengers freed

Civil Aviation Ministry Spokesman Ihab Raslan said that the ministry gave priority for the release of the hostages that were on board hijacked EgyptAir plane.

In statements to the Egyptian TV on Tuesday, the spokesman said that the Egyptian diplomacy managed to secure the release the majority of passengers that were on board an EgyptAir Airbus A320 that were hijacked earlier in the day and forced to land at Larnaca airport, on the south coast of Cyprus.

The motive behind the hijacking is still unknown, the spokesman said, making it clear that he could not confirm whether the hijacker was wearing an explosive-laden belt or not. 

The plane was originally flying from Alexandria's Borg El Arab Airport to Cairo. 

Seven people, namely the pilot, the co-pilot, a flight attendant, a security officer and three passengers are still inside the plane, the aviation minister told a press conference at the ministry.

Source: MENA