Just Because It's Trending Doesn't Mean It's True

EgyptAir Flight MS181 Hijacked, Forced To Land in Cyprus

  • by: Maarten Schenk
  • (Tue, 29 Mar 2016 07:07:57 Z)

STORY UPDATED: check for updates below.

A passenger jet from Egyptian airline Egyptair has been forced to land in Cyprus by at least one hijacker wearing a suicide belt. All passengers have been let of the plane by now, the crew is still on board. Reportedtly the hijacker has demanded a translator and political asylum but there are also reports he is looking to deliver a four page message to his Cypriot ex-wife. The hijacker was originally identified as 27-year old Egyptian man named 'Ibrahim Samaha' a professor of veterinary medicine, but this waslater denied. There are also reports the man holds U.S. citizenship, but this is unconfirmed.

Updated: Cyprus Foreign Ministry announced the hijacker has been arrested shortly after the remaining crew members managed to escape from the plane via a cockpit window.

Developing...

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: Supposed image of the hijacker, with explosives belt:

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: Egyptian and Cypriot officials are not sure the hijacker has actual explosives with him.

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: Speculation: hijacker may not be looking to cause mass casualty event, probably has actual demands.

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: Plane had 81 people on board, flying from Alexandria to Cairo. Reportedly 8 Britons and 10 Americans on board.

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About the author:

Maarten Schenk is our resident expert on fake news and hoax websites. He likes to go beyond just debunking trending fake news stories and is endlessly fascinated by the dazzling variety of psychological and technical tricks used by the people and networks who intentionally spread made-up things on the internet.  He can often be found at conferences and events about fake news, disinformation and fact checking when he is not in his office in Belgium monitoring and tracking the latest fake article to go viral.

Read more about or contact Maarten Schenk