The Egyptair hijacker has been arrested after keeping hostages on a plane in Cyprus.
The man who claimed to have an explosive vest had been holding seven people hostage aboard an EgyptAir plane after forcing it to divert to the Mediterranean island during a domestic flight from Alexandria to Cairo.
Previously, the man allowed woman and children to disembark the aircraft. One of the hostages was said to be an Irish man.
The airline said the plane, flight number MS181, was carrying 56 passengers, including 26 foreigners, and seven crew, as well as a security officer.
Minutes before the alleged hijacker was arrested a number of people were seen sprinting from the plane, with one climbing out of a cockpit window, before being led away by security officers.
Announcing the end of the hostage situation, the Cyprus Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Twitter: “It’s over. The hijacker is arrested.”