Egypt's state television has named the suspect who hijacked the EgyptAir Flight MS181 as Ibrahim Samaha, foreign media said.

Cyprus state television has said that the suspect is a 27 year-old and he had asked for political asylum, Sky News reported. He had also demanded a translator for negotiations. 

The hijacker threatened the pilot of the Alexandria-Cairo flight with a suicide belt and forced it to be diverted to Cyprus.

The hijacker released all passengers expect four foreigners. The crew and the foreign passengers remain inside the plane.