An Irish person is among the passengers on a hijacked plane from Egypt which has landed in Cyprus, according to reports. The plane, an EgyptAir domestic flight, was travelling from Alexandria to Cairo. A total of 62 people were understood to be on board the plane, which landed in Larnaca airport less than an hour after takeoff at 8am local time. Airline crew and four 'foreigners' are still on board the plane after the other passengers were released. It is not clear as to whether the Irish person is one of the four passengers still on board. The Department of Foreign Affairs are unable to confirm the reports of an Irish citizen on the flight. It is reported one man is armed on board the plane - there are also reports that a bomb is on the aircraft. The hijacker has been identified by Egyptian state media as Ibrahim Samaha. It is understood he has requested a translator and political asylum. Cypriot state radio has also reported that the man wants a four-page letter delivered to his ex-wife. Footage has since been aired by Sky News showing the released passengers making their way down the steps and into a waiting bus on the runway. A spokeswoman for the airline said the hijackers requested for the flight to land in Cyprus. It is also understood the hijacker has requested police on the tarmac outside the plane to leave the area. Larnaca airport has since been closed and scheduled flights have been diverted elsewhere. The aircraft involved is an EgyptAir Airbus A320. There are 55 passengers and 7 staff on board.
