The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation reported that 55 people were on board, with a crew of 7. There were earlier reports of about 80 to 81 people on board. At least one man was thought to be armed. The hijacking occurred in Cyprus's flight information region and the airliner was diverted to Larnaca.

FULL STORY:  Egyptian plane hijacked to Cyprus, most passengers freed ASSOCIATED PRESS CAIRO: A Cypriot government official says the hijacked plane landed on Tuesday morning at the airport in Larnaca and that there are suspicions of a bomb on board. A second Cypriot official says there 'seems like there's more than one hijacker.' He says there have been no demands other than that police vehicles move away from the aircraft. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity under regulations. The statement from the Egyptian aviation authority says the MS181 is an Airbus and that it has 55 passengers on board and five crew members. Our flight MS181 is officially hijacked. we'll publish an official statement now. #Egyptair — EGYPTAIR (@EGYPTAIR) March 29, 2016 Cyprus broadcasting reports one hijacker thought to be strapped with explosives, police have been asked to back away from aircraft CAIRO/ATHENS: An EgyptAir domestic flight from Alexandria to Cairo was hijacked on Tuesday and landed in Cyprus, Egyptian officials said. The pilot of the plane was threatened by a passenger strapped with explosives, Egypt's Civil Aviation Ministry said. The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation reported that 55 passengers were on board and a crew of seven. The hijacking occurred in Cyprus's flight information region and the airliner was diverted to Larnaca. The plane was an Airbus 320, Egypt's aviation ministry said. The ministry in a statement that pilot Omar al-Gammal had informed authorities that he was threatened by a passenger who possessed a suicide belt and forced him to land in Larnaca. CYBC said the airplane was parked at an apron at Larnaca airport. The hijacker asked police to back away from the aircraft, it said. Israel scrambled warplanes in its airspace as a precaution in response to the plane hijacking, according to an Israeli military source. Passengers on the EgyptAir plane that was diverted to Cyprus included eight Britons and 10 Americans, three security sources at Alexandria airport said. EgyptAir says all passengers freed except 5 foreigners, crew CAIRO/ ATHENS: EgyptAir said negotiations had resulted in the release of all passengers on the hijacked Egyptian plane except for five foreigners and the crew. 'The negotiations with the hijacker have resulted in the release of all the plane passengers with the exception of the crew and five foreigners,' the airline said in a statement.

Negotiations with the Hijacker result in the release of all the passengers, except the crew and four foreigners.

— EGYPTAIR (@EGYPTAIR) March 29, 2016 About 30 to 40 passengers onboard a hijacked EgyptAir plane that was forced to land in Cyprus were released, Cyprus state media reported on Tuesday. Earlier, the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation reported that 55 passengers were on board and a crew of seven.