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'Four Britons' On Board Hijacked Plane

'Four Britons' On Board Hijacked Plane

Four Britons and eight Americans were believed to be on a hijacked EgyptAir plane that was forced to land in Cyprus.

One Irish citizen was also on flight MS181, according to Sky News sources.

Fifty-five people were on the plane when it was hijacked by a man during an internal flight in Egypt.

Most of the passengers were released after the plane landed at Lanarca airport, but seven people were held hostage on the plane as it sat on the runway.

The hijacker, who reportedly claimed to be wearing a suicide belt, has since been arrested and the remaining passengers were released.

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Hossni Hassan, director of the Alexandria airport, where the plane took off from around 8am, said there were 26 foreigners on the plane.

Mr Hassan said there were eight Americans, four Britons, four Dutch nationals, two Belgians, a French national, an Italian, two Greeks and one Syrian on the flight.

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Earlier reports had stated there were eight British passengers on board the flight.

The Foreign Office is looking into the reports.

An FCO spokesman said: "We are in contact with the Cypriot and Egyptian authorities after a hijacked plane landed in Cyprus."

The hijacking is not terrorism-related, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades said.

:: EgyptAir has set up an international information hotline for people concerned about family members. Call +20 2259 893 2029