Airline and Egyptian government sources are quoted as saying that the domestic flight travelling from Alexandria to Cairo was taken over by at least one armed hijacker.
They asked for the flight to land in Cyprus, an EgyptAir spokeswoman is quoted as saying.
The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation reports that 55 people are on board.
There were earlier reports of more than 80 people on board.
EgyptAir flight MS181 is believed to have 55 people on board, with a crew of 7, according to the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation. Earlier media reports suggested there were about 80 to 81 people on board.
Egyptian civil aviation sources and police confirmed the hijacking and said one man was involved. The plane was an Airbus 320, they said.
The aviation body said a passenger with a suicide belt had threatened the pilot.
A Cypriot official says there were suspicions of a bomb on board. A second official said that there seemed to be "more than one hijacker".
He also added that there have been no demands other than that police vehicles move away from the aircraft.
Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity under regulations.
Dubai-based AL Arabiya reports that the Airbus 320 departed on Tuesday morning. After take-off, an individual on board announced he was wearing a belt with explosives.
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