In pics: EgyptAir plane hijacked, taken to Cyprus; passengers released

A suspected hijacker carrying explosives seized an Egyptian airliner on Tuesday and diverted it to Cyprus. The incident triggered a hostage crisis at Larnaca airport on the south coast, Cypriot police said.

A suspected hijacker carrying explosives seized an Egyptian airliner on Tuesday and diverted it to Cyprus. The incident triggered a hostage crisis at Larnaca Airport on the south coast, Cypriot police said.

A policeman stands guard at Larnaca Airport near a hijacked Egyptair A320 plane. (REUTERS)

Egyptian civil aviation ministry said the hijacker has threatened to detonate an explosives belt.

The hijacked Egyptair plance stands on the runway at Larnaca Airport in Cyprus.

A police car stands outside the Larnaca Airport to keep an eye on the hijack situation. EgyptAir said negotiations had resulted in the release of all passengers on the hijacked Egyptian plane except for five foreigners and the crew.

The statement from the Egyptian aviation authority says the MS181 is an Airbus and that plane was carrying 55 passengers on board and five crew members. The passengers include eight Britons and 10 Americans, three security sources at Alexandria airport said.

A bus carries passengers from the hijacked aircraft.

An official boards the hijacked plane. The plane is parked at an apron at Larnaca airport. The hijacker asked police to back away from the aircraft, Cyprus broadcaster CYBC said.

An official telephones from the ramp of a hijacked Egyptair A320 Airbus at Larnaca Airport in Larnaca.

Media gather at Larnaca Airport near a hijacked Egyptair Airbus A320 , March 29, 2016

A crew member stands by the door of a hijacked EgyptAir aircraft after landing at Larnaca Airport in Cyprus Tuesday, March 29, 2016.