Police spokesman Michalis Katsounotos says the 28-year-old sailor, who holds a Greek passport, then jumped the Larnaca airport fence and disappeared.
Katsounotos did not release the man's name before a formal arrest warrant is issued later Sunday on charges of breaking civil aviation safety regulations and entering a prohibited airport space without permission.
He said investigators don't know what spurred the man to exit the Cyprus Airways jet Saturday night moments after the captain ordered the crew to lock the aircraft doors.
The Airbus with 158 passengers aboard was on a scheduled flight to Athens.
