( CNN ) -- Egyptian authorities stopped two people suspected in the theft of a painting by Vincent Van Gogh , nabbing them just moments before they were to board a plane and flee the country , according to Egypt 's official news agency , MENA . Egyptian Culture Minister Farouq Hosni said in a statement Saturday night that efforts to recover the stolen `` Poppy Flowers '' painting are still ongoing , despite earlier reports that the painting had been returned to Cairo 's Mohammed Mahmoud Khalil Museum . Hosni said later that those reports were unconfirmed . Two Italians -- a man and a woman -- suspected of stealing the painting were preparing to board a plane to Italy when they were stopped at Cairo International Airport . An interior ministry spokesman told CNN that the man was arrested . The painting was stolen earlier Saturday . `` Poppy Flowers '' has an estimated value of about $ 50 million . It also had been stolen in 1978 and returned under unknown circumstances , causing some to think that the piece was copied in the process , according to MENA . CNN 's Amir Ahmed contributed to this report .
NEW : Painting has not yet been recovered ; earlier reports were unconfirmed . `` Poppy Flowers '' was stolen from a museum in Cairo Saturday . Italians authorities stopped Two suspects at Cairo International Airport . The painting is estimated to be worth about $ 50 million .