Reports an Irish national on board hijacked EgyptAir flight

THE hijacking of an Egyptian plane that was diverted to Cyprus is not related to terrorism, the island's president confirmed, as it emerged a man on board claiming he had a suicide belt was trying to contact his estranged wife.

Seven people, including three passengers, are being held hostage on board the EgyptAir plane which was diverted during an internal flight from Alexandria on Egypt's Mediterranean coast to the capital Cairo.

An Irish national and a number of Britons are thought to have been aboard, though it is not known if they are among those still being held.

The plane, carrying 81 passengers and seven crew, landed at Larnaca airport in Cyprus where negotiations led to the release of everyone on board apart from the crew and four foreign passengers, the airline said.

The Republic's Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan said diplomatic staff were trying to clarify reports of an Irish citizen caught up in the hijacking.

"The consular division of my department is urgently seeking to clarify the situation, and specifically the conflicting reports as to the nationalities of the passengers involved," he said.

Irish embassies in Nicosia and Cairo are liaising with authorities in Egypt and Cyprus.

"We will provide updates as the situation becomes clearer. My thoughts this morning are with all of those affected by this traumatic event. Our primary concern at this stage is that there will be a peaceful outcome," Mr Flanagan said.

Cypriot president Nicos Anastasiades said the hijacking is "not something which has to do with terrorism" and that the government is doing its utmost to ensure the remaining passengers are safely released.

He added: "It's all to do with a woman. We are doing everything to release the hostages."

According to The Guardian, an official at Egypt's ministry of foreign affairs said: "He's not a terrorist, he's an idiot. Terrorists are crazy but they aren't stupid. This guy is."

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it is working with Cypriot and Egyptian authorities, while the Republic's Department of Foreign Affairs said it is liaising with consular staff in Egypt but could not confirm if an Irish citizen was on board the plane.

The Airbus was heading from Alexandria to Cairo on a routine 30-minute flight when it was hijacked. No group has yet claimed responsibility, although Egyptian state television said there was a lone hijacker and identified him as Ibrahim Samaha.

An official with a flight-tracking website said the plane showed no immediate signs of distress while in the air.

Ian Petchenik, a spokesman for FlightRadar24, said the aircraft flew in a typical fashion to Cyprus, without the pilots signalling any trouble via their transponder.

Mr Petchenik said: "It looks like a completely controlled flight aside from the fact it was hijacked."

The director of the Alexandria airport, Hossni Hassan, said there were 26 foreigners on board the EgyptAir flight, including eight Americans, four Britons, four Dutch, two Belgians, a French national, an Italian, two Greeks and one Syrian. He said three other foreigners could not be identified.

EgyptAir is offering those concerned about their loved ones possibly being on the flight several telephone numbers to call for more information.

The carrier said those within Egypt could call their emergency centre at 0800 77 77 000, while those living abroad can call (0020) 2 259 893 2029.