Updated 10:20 pm: A spokeman for the Cyprus Ministry of Transport has confirmed that an Egyptian man took over a flight in order to make contact with his ex wife.

EgyptAir says there are now 7 hostages left on board including 4 Crew and 3 passengers.

The EgyptAir MS181 Airbus originally carrying 81 passengers was reportedly hijacked by one man during an internal flight from Alexandria to Cairo before heading to Cyprus.

After the EgyptAir plane landed at Larnaca airport on Tuesday morning, the hijacker released all those on board except a small number foreign passengers and the crew.

The President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades has confirmed the hijacking is not terrorism related.

Local Cypriot News are reporting that the hijacker threw a letter out of the plane asking for his ex wife, who lives in Cyprus, to be contacted.

She is now at the airport.

Local media are also reporting that the man is asking for political asylum in Cyprus, but this is yet to be confirmed.