EgyptAir hijack: All hostages released from flight MS181 except four crew members and three 'foreigners'

The plane was carrying 56 passengers along with seven crew and one EgyptAir security officer

All hostages on the hijacked EgyptAir plane are to be released with the exception of the flight crew and four non-Egyptian passengers.

Egypt's civil aviation minister says seven people remain with the hijacker on the EgyptAir plane that has landed in Cyprus, four crew and three passengers.

This domestic flight was hijacked en route to Cairo from Alexandria and was landed at Lanarca airport in Cyprus after a request by the pilots.

According to EgyptAir - Flight MS181 was carrying 56 passengers along with seven crew members and one EgyptAir security officer.

Aviation sources told Reuters, eight British nationals and ten Americans were onboard but is unknown how many of them have been released

Egyptian state media has named the hijacker as Ibrahim Samaha, stating he was sitting on seat 38K and is aged between 27 and 28 years old.

EgyptAir have said that the hijacker in possession of a "suicide vest".

While his motives are not yet known, some officials have said he has been seeking political asylum.

A Cypriot spokesman has said authorities "doubt the hijacker has any real explosives".