Cypriot president: EgyptAir plane hijacking 'is not suicide'

Cyprus' President Nicos Anastasiades said that the EgyptAir hijacking incident is "not something which has to do with terrorism."

Cyprus news agency quoted the president as saying "we are doing our utmost in order for everyone to be released and safe and to give an end to this unprecedented (incident). In any case it is not something which has to do with terrorism." 

Replying to reporters' questions, the president said at least 49 of the passengers have been released, noting that the government was doing everything possible for the safe release of everyone on board the plane.

Asked if everything happened over a woman, President Anastasiades said "there is always a woman".

All passengers, apart from five foreigners and seven crew members, of the hijacked Egyptian plane were released, EgyptAir said in a statement.

Earlier in the day, the EgyptAir Airbus A320, carrying 56 passengers, seven crew members and a security guard on board, was hijacked and forced to land in Cyprus.

Flight MS181 passenger plane was originally travelling from Alexandra's Borg El Arab Airport to Cairo.

Source : MENA