LARNACA, Cyprus, March 29 (Reuters) – The suspected hijacker of an EgyptAir airliner surrendered to authorities at Larnaca airport in Cyprus on Tuesday, Cypriot authorities said.
The hijacker emerged from the aircraft with his hands in the air, state TV said. “Its over,” Cyprus’s foreign ministry said in a tweet.
After the EgyptAir plane landed at Larnaca airport, the hijacker released all the people onboard except four foreign passengers and the crew following negotiations, EgyptAir said.
About 60 people, including seven crew, had been onboard the Airbus 320, Egyptian and Cypriot officials said.
Citing security sources, Cypriot state media said that the motives of the hijacker appeared personal and he had asked to contact his ex-wife, who lives in Cyprus.
“It is not something which has to do with terrorism,” Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades told reporters.
There was some confusion over the identity of the hijacker.
Egyptian state media named him as Ibrahim Samaha, an Egyptian, but gave no other details about him.
Passengers on the plane included eight Britons and 10 Americans, three security sources at Alexandria airport said. The Dutch Foreign Ministry said a Dutchman was among the foreigners still onboard the aircraft.
(Reporting by Cairo bureau and Michele Kambas in Athens, Editing by Angus MacSwan)