29-03-2016, 09:02 AM
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Man Strapped With Explosives Hijacks Plane
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/hijacked-p...061731979.htmlA man strapped with explosives has hijacked a passenger plane during an internal flight in Egypt.
EgyptAir flight MSR181 has now landed at Larnaca Airport in Cyprus, where all but four foreign passengers and the crew are being allowed to disembark.
Eight Britons, 10 Americans and one Irish citizen were reported to have been among the 81 passengers on board when the plane took off. The nationalities of those left on board is unknown.
The hijacker - reported by state TV to be Egyptian national Ibrahim Samaha - has asked police to leave the runway.
:: Live updates: Passenger Plane Hijacked
The Civil Aviation Ministry said the pilot was threatened by a passenger wearing a suicide belt.
A statement said: "The pilot said that a passenger told him he had an explosives vest and forced the plane to land in Larnaca."
Cypriot TV is reporting the hijacker, thought to be aged 26 or 27, has asked for political asylum and a translator.
The airliner took off from Alexandria at 8am.
A hijacker contacted the control tower at 8.30am (5.30am in UK) and the plane was given permission to land at 8.50am.
A crisis team including ambulances were deployed to the airport.
EgyptAir tweeted: "Our flight MS181 is officially hijacked. We'll publish an official statement now."
Israel scrambled warplanes in its airspace as a precaution in response to the hijacking, according to an Israeli military source.
The hijacking calls into question air security in Egypt five months after a Russian plane crashed over Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, killing all 224 people on board.
Russia said a bomb brought down the plane and the attack was claimed by IS.
More follows
29-03-2016, 09:22 AM
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Re: Man Strapped With Explosives Hijacks Plane
Originally Posted by TessA
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Looks like the hijacker has let people off the plane, he has asked for a letter to be handed to his ex wife who lives in Cyprus and wants to claim asylum there.
29-03-2016, 10:02 AM
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Re: Man Strapped With Explosives Hijacks Plane
Two questions arise:1. I thought that following the september 11 2001, events all airlines were expected to place locks on cabin doors to prevent passenger access into the cockpit.
2. What happened to 'security' at Alexandra Airport??? How did they manage to miss a man carrying explosives on him???, and don't tell me its because Egyptian security is lax, from personal experience that isn't so.
29-03-2016, 12:33 PM
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Re: Man Strapped With Explosives Hijacks Plane
It appears it isn't the veterinary professor, he was just a passenger.https://uk.news.yahoo.com/hijacked-p...061731979.html
From the new article:
"Earlier reports in Cyprus incorrectly named the hijacker as Egyptian national Ibrahim Samaha, a 27-year-old professor of veterinary medicine. However, a man claiming to be Mr Samaha told media outlets he had been an innocent passenger."
29-03-2016, 12:42 PM
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Re: Man Strapped With Explosives Hijacks Plane
A different report.http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/hijacked-eg...m_campaign=rss
29-03-2016, 01:27 PM
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Re: Man Strapped With Explosives Hijacks Plane
He's unstable but it appears he has little or no intention of killing anyone.He's given them what they want, rid himself of leverage and protection(to some extent)by giving passengers safe passage from the plane.
The authorities have to play it by the book and cannot act with force, tubular entry(planes, trains, coaches etc)is known for its complexity and high risks.
I doubt it will end with deaths.
Edit: oops, note toTerry, read links before posting.
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