Larnaca airport closed with hijacked Egyptian plane on tarmac

The Cypriot authorities have closed Larnaca airport traffic as negotiations continue with Ibrahim Samaha, 28, the Egyptian identified as a hijacker of the domestic flight after its takeoff from Alexandria early Tuesday. Security officials have not approached the airliner after a bomb was reported aboard.
Egyptian sources have indicated there were more than one air hijacker and termed the motive “political.”
There are conflicting reports from the Egyptian and Cypriot authorities with regard to the number of foreigners on the Egyptair plane. Cairo reports that four foreigners, likely Britons, and the crew of 7 are held on the airliner after all the other passengers were released. Cyprus claims that 13 foreigners are held in addition to the crew. Cairo cites 18 foreigners in all among the more than 80 passengers.