Hijacked EgyptAir flight with suspected bomb on board lands in Cyprus

The EgyptAir plane was reportedly taken over by at least one armed man while flying from Alexandria on Egypt's Mediterranean coast to the capital Cairo, the country's civil aviation authority said.

Around 55 people and seven crew are believed to be on board.

EgyptAir confirmed the incident, saying on Twitter: "Our flight MS181 is officially hijacked", and added that a statement would follow.

Cypriot government officials said that after the plane, an Airbus A320, landed at Larnaca airport on this morning hijackers demanded that police vehicles move away from the aircraft.

One official said it "seems like there's more than one hijacker" on the plane.

In a statement on Twitter, Egypt Air there was a threat from a passenger with an explosive belt.

The Airbus was carrying 81 passengers.

Hijackers are allowing women and children to leave the aircraft, with some now disembarking, Cypriot officials said.

A spokesman for Cyprus Police said: "There is a hijack in an EgyptAir plane. The aeroplane landed at 8.50 this morning at the international airport at Larnaca.

"That is all we have for the time being."

He also said he had "no idea" whether there were any British people on board.