A three-hour security alert at Larnaca International Airport ended after authorities questioned a passenger from Moldova who had been flagged as suspicious.
The aircraft carrying 104 passengers from Chisinau landed shortly before 11am and was immediately directed to a special security area away from the main terminal and other aircraft.
Armed police officers boarded the plane and removed the suspect for questioning, as shown in video footage obtained by Philenews.
According to sources, the suspect is a Moldovan man who has previously visited Cyprus multiple times, a detail now being investigated.
Larnaca CID investigators have requested information from Interpol about both the suspect, who has not been arrested, and the individual who provided the tip in Moldova claiming the passenger was dangerous.
The remaining 103 passengers were kept on board while their luggage was screened, following standard security protocols implemented by Civil Aviation and Hermes Airports.
They were finally allowed to disembark shortly before 2pm, when the aircraft was cleared to leave the security area.
Larnaca Airport was closed for ten minutes during the incident, with one flight from Qatar being diverted to Paphos.
Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades told Sigma TV that “aircraft arriving in Cyprus maintained a safe distance from the particular flight”.
Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis confirmed that “information was received from Moldova that a specific passenger considered suspicious was on board a flight landing in Larnaca” and that “the information is being evaluated”.
