An Egyptian civil aviation offical tells a news conference, contrary to previous reports, that seven people, including three passengers, remain on board the hijacked plane.

Aviation expert David Learmont tells the BBC that he believes that the pilot should not have followed the hijacker's instructions.

A man wrongly identified in some reports as the hijacker has spoken to BBC Arabic. Dr Ibrahim Samaha, an Egyptian university professor, said that he was not the hijacker but was on board the plane. 

He described what happened: "We did not know what was going on. We got aboard the plane and we were surprised that the crew took all our passports, which is unusual for a domestic flight. After a while we realised that the altitude is getting higher. Then we knew we were heading to Cyprus. At first the crew told us there was a problem with the plane, and only later we knew it was hijacked."

BBC producer Rebecca Bailey, who is at Larnaca airport, says the scene there at the moment is one of relative calm, although the departure board is full of news of cancellations, delays and diversions. A lot of people are standing around, waiting for more information, as more people continue to arrive at the airport with their baggage, she adds.

Passengers from the hijacked plane congregate at Larnaca airport after being freed.

Image source, AFP

More from Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades. Speaking at a joint news conference with the visiting president of the European Parliament Martin Schultz, he said the Cyprus government had done everything it could to ensure the safe release of the passengers, AFP is reporting.

Most are reported to have been released.

The BBC's Ranyah Sabry in Cairo says it appears all the hostages have been freed, and the hijacker is now on his own in the plane. Egyptian officials are due to hold a news conference shortly.

Image source, AFP

"It is not something which has to do with terrorism," Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades tells reporters, according to Reuters.

At least five more people have been allowed to disembark from the plane, AFP news agency reports. 

The group were wearing what appeared to be airline crew uniforms, a correspondent at the scene says.

The hijacker has demanded to see his estranged wife, and she is going to the airport, reports say, citing Cypriot government and police sources. She is said to live in a village not far from the airport.

Cypriot state broadcasters are reporting that more passengers have been seen leaving the hijacked plane, Reuters news agency says.

Flight MS181 from Alexandria to Cairo was hijacked and diverted to Cyprus, where it landed at 05:46 GMT.

The head of Alexandria's Borg El Arab Airport, where the flight took off, has given a BBC reporter more details of the passengers on board the plane.

Eight Americans, four Britons, two Belgians, one Italian, four Dutch and 30 Egyptians were on board the flight, he says.

Earlier reports had said there were 81 passengers on board. 

Cyprus broadcasting (CYBC) is suggesting the hijacker may have personal motives, Reuters are reporting. The hijacker had an ex-wife in Cyprus, CYBC said. Witnesses said the hijacker threw a letter onto the airport tarmac, written in Arabic, asking for it to be delivered to her.

News agency AFP are quoting reports that the hijacker has asked for a translator to press his demand.

Here's a summary of what we know at this time:

• A man hijacked an EgyptAir plane traveling from Alexandria to Cairo, forcing it to land in Cyprus. The plane began its journey in Saudi Arabia

• Most passengers have been released but at least four foreign passengers and the crew remain on board
• Egyptian state media has identified the hijacker as an Egyptian national
• Cyprus state media says he has demanded asylum in the country

• The hijacker was reportedly strapped with explosives, though this has not been confirmed

Image source, EPA